Idaho's S 1127 establishes legal rules for using gold and silver coins/bullion as payment. It defines terms, sets dollar values based on metal weight and market rates, and requires the state controller to publish daily exchange ratios. The bill allows residents and businesses to pay certain taxes, fees, and debts using gold/silver coins or bullion (e.g., contracts can include "gold clauses" for payment), while prohibiting state seizure of these metals. It directly affects Idaho taxpayers, businesses entering contracts, and state agencies handling payments. The law does not make gold/silver mandatory currency but creates a framework for its use as legal tender under specific conditions.
H 320 requires Idaho legislative candidates, current legislators, and newly elected members to publicly report travel outside Idaho paid for by others. This includes details like destination, dates, purpose, cost, and the name of the person or entity covering the expenses - excluding travel paid through campaign funds or personal money. Failure to report within 30 days incurs a $25 daily late fee, deposited into the public school fund. The law aims to increase transparency in government by making third-party travel funding visible to the public. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.
H 309 replaces Idaho's entire existing lobbying regulatory framework by repealing all current sections governing lobbyists and establishing a new Chapter 7 in Title 74. The bill requires lobbyists to register, mandates regular reporting of activities and communications, and sets new standards for state entities reporting lobbying efforts. It directly affects professional lobbyists, government officials, and state agencies by creating uniform registration, reporting, and disclosure requirements. Key provisions include defining key terms, establishing enforcement mechanisms, and setting penalties for noncompliance, all aimed at increasing transparency in lobbying activities. The bill does not change substantive policy but overhauls the administrative system for tracking lobbying influence.
This bill adjusts Idaho judges' salaries by setting specific yearly amounts for different court levels starting in 2024. Supreme court justices' pay increases from $169,508 (effective July 2024) to $207,655 (effective July 2027), while lower court judges receive fixed amounts $6,000-$8,000 less than higher courts (e.g., district judges earn $6,000 less than court of appeals judges). The changes take effect July 1, 2025, as declared an emergency by the legislature.
H 303 establishes that manufacturers or sellers of agricultural products (used in growing food or fiber) are presumed to have met their legal duty to warn consumers about risks if they follow required warnings from Idaho or federal laws backed by scientific evaluation. The bill directly affects agricultural product manufacturers and sellers by shifting the burden of proof in product liability cases: a warning is considered sufficient unless a plaintiff provides peer-reviewed scientific evidence showing the required warning lacked scientific support and the seller knew this. Key provisions require warnings to be based on scientific evaluation, issued per law, and given as required, with rebuttals needing rigorous academic validation. This changes how courts assess liability claims related to agricultural product warnings in Idaho, effective July 1, 2025.
This bill amends Idaho's oil and gas conservation commission structure and authority. It requires the commission to include four appointed members with specific expertise (e.g., geoscience/engineering, mineral interest owners, land use specialists) and clarifies that local governments cannot prohibit oil/gas extraction or related infrastructure, though they may impose reasonable regulations for public health, safety, or property protection. The commission gains exclusive authority over oil/gas regulation, rescinding prior delegations to other local or state bodies. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, impacting oil/gas producers, local governments, and commission members.
This bill revises salary schedules for all Idaho judges, effective July 2025. It increases Supreme Court justices' salaries starting July 2024 ($169,508 annually), with further raises in 2026 ($190,882), 2027 ($202,704), and 2028 ($215,353). Court of appeals judges will earn $8,000 less than Supreme Court justices starting July 2023, district judges $6,000 less than court of appeals judges (since 2017), and magistrate judges $8,000 less than district judges (since 2023). The changes apply to all judicial positions covered under the Idaho Code.
Idaho's S 1123 prohibits public colleges and universities from using identity characteristics (like race, gender, or sexual orientation) in hiring, admissions, or student support decisions, and bans DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) offices or initiatives. It requires institutions to ensure merit-based opportunities, report violations to the state board of education, and face fines of $10,000 to $50,000 per violation (with funds redirected to merit-based scholarships). The law explicitly excludes compliance with federal law and protects programs supporting federally recognized American Indian students. It takes effect July 1, 2025.
This Idaho bill requires the Secretary of State to investigate false claims made about election candidates during campaigns. If a claim is proven false, the Secretary must post findings online within 7 days (or 48 hours if within two weeks of an election), giving the publisher time to respond. It directly affects candidates reporting misinformation and publishers spreading false claims via any medium (phone, internet, etc.). The law aims to address election misinformation by making the Secretary’s findings publicly available quickly.
Idaho's H 302 amends wildlife relocation rules to require the Fish and Game director to notify county commissioners, landowners, and grazing permittees before relocating bighorn sheep for population augmentation. If concerns are raised in writing within 10 days of notice, the department must hold a hearing within 30 days. The bill also mandates written agreements with affected landowners acknowledging disease transmission risks between bighorn sheep and livestock. These provisions apply specifically to bighorn sheep transplants, not general wildlife. The bill aims to balance wildlife management with input from local stakeholders affected by relocation projects.
Idaho's H 296 requires state pension funds, university endowments, and other public investment accounts (called "state-managed funds") to sell all holdings in companies tied to designated foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea by June 30, 2026. The bill prohibits new investments in such entities and mandates a state audit by January 2026 to identify restricted companies. It defines "foreign adversaries" using federal standards (15 CFR 791.4) and sets a 0.05% cap for any remaining holdings. This law directly affects public retirement systems, university investments, and state government funds managing public money.
H 308 amends Idaho's campaign finance laws to increase transparency for voters. It requires candidates, political action committees (PACs), and political parties to disclose who funds their campaigns - including banning foreign contributions and requiring ads to identify their sponsor. The bill creates new reporting rules for campaign finances, establishes roles for political treasurers, and mandates that polls about candidates reveal who paid for them. These changes directly affect all candidates running for Idaho state or local office, PACs, and political committees participating in elections.
