This bill establishes procedures for carrying out executions in Idaho by specifying that the methods and protocols used will not be subject to certain state laws. It creates a system where the director of the Department of Correction determines the execution method, prioritizing lethal injection if available but allowing for a firing squad as an alternative. The legislation also grants exemptions from medical practice laws, protects participants from civil and criminal liability, and keeps the identities of those involved in executions confidential. These provisions apply to all future executions regardless of when the death sentence was originally imposed.
This bill allows Idaho county sheriffs to seek reimbursement from the Idaho Department of Correction for costs incurred when traveling out-of-state to recapture escaped prisoners, probationers, or parolees. Sheriffs can submit invoices detailing travel, mileage, personnel, overtime, or other reasonable recapture costs after successfully returning individuals to custody. The Department of Correction must pay these claims within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice and will appropriate annual funds for this purpose. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies directly to county sheriff's offices and the Department of Correction.
H 522 establishes a "drone no-fly zone" around Idaho's correctional facilities, creating a 400-foot restricted airspace above prison grounds. It prohibits drones from operating in this zone for any illegal or dangerous purpose (like spying or smuggling), making violations a misdemeanor punishable by fines of $2,000-$5,000 or up to one year in jail. Correctional facilities and law enforcement may use legal methods - such as jamming or physical capture - to disrupt drones operating "in a nefarious manner" within this zone. The law requires drone operators to know these restrictions, with ignorance not excused as a defense.
This bill provides additional funding and staffing to Idaho's Office of the State Public Defender for fiscal year 2027. It allocates $505,100 total from state funds, including $250,900 for personnel costs and $250,500 for operating expenses, while also authorizing six additional full-time equivalent positions. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring the office has necessary resources to support public defense services during the fiscal year.
This bill allocates approximately $4.1 million in funding to Idaho's Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027, covering court operations, trustee and benefit payments, and specific programs like drug courts and guardian ad litem services. The money comes from various existing funds, including the Court Technology Fund, Drug Court and Mental Health Court Fund, and the General Fund, and is designated for specific expense categories within district courts, magistrate divisions, and community-based substance use treatment services. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to ensure the funding takes effect immediately on July 1, 2026, allowing the Judicial Branch to access these resources without delay.
This bill appropriates $4.89 million to the Idaho State Police for fiscal year 2027, covering operating expenses and capital outlays for various programs and divisions. The funding is allocated across specific areas including brand inspection, investigations, patrol operations, law enforcement programs, support services, and the post academy, with money drawn from multiple state and federal funds. The legislation declares an emergency to allow the appropriation to take effect immediately on July 1, 2026, ensuring the Idaho State Police have the necessary resources for that fiscal year.
This bill provides additional funding to Idaho's Department of Juvenile Corrections for fiscal year 2027, covering personnel costs, operating expenses, and capital outlays from various state funds. It authorizes the department to hire six additional full-time equivalent positions and adjusts specific appropriation amounts, including a reduction of $327,000 for trustee and benefit payments from one fund. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and was signed into law by the Governor.
This Idaho bill (S 1260) revises state laws governing immigration enforcement. It removes outdated provisions about illegal entry, clarifies definitions (like "illegal alien" and "dangerous crime"), and changes penalties: first illegal entry becomes a misdemeanor, repeat offenses a felony. The law requires police to enforce these rules only when someone is detained for unrelated crimes, and adds specific defenses (e.g., having federal permission to stay, asylum status, or DACA approval between 2012-2021). It takes effect July 1, 2026.
H 681 eliminates the statute of limitations for specific serious crimes in Idaho, meaning prosecutors can file charges at any time regardless of when the offense occurred. It directly affects victims and law enforcement by removing time constraints for prosecuting murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape, child sexual abuse (including lewd conduct with children), production of child sexual exploitation material, and terrorism. The bill amends Idaho Code Section 19-401 to explicitly state there is no time limit for these offenses. This change applies to all cases involving the listed crimes, allowing for potential prosecution years or decades after the incident.
This bill revises Idaho's legal definition of "sexual contact" to explicitly include specific sexual acts (like intercourse, genital contact, or oral contact) and any physical contact with sexual intent. It prohibits correctional facility employees (including private facility staff) and supervising officers from having such contact with prisoners, juvenile offenders, parolees, or probationers (unless the person is their spouse). Violations would be classified as felonies punishable by up to life imprisonment. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
