This bill allocates an additional $200,000 from the General Fund to Idaho's Department of Correction for fiscal year 2027, specifically for the County and Out-of-State Placement Program. The funds are designated for operating expenditures and will be available from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The legislation includes a declaration of emergency to ensure the appropriation takes effect immediately upon passage. This measure directly affects the Department of Correction's budget and resources for managing inmate placement programs.
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 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.
H 690 removes the Attorney General's requirement to establish a sobriety and drug monitoring program. It amends Idaho Code by deleting subsection (18) from Section 67-1401 (which directed the Attorney General to create this program) and repeals all related sections (67-1412 through 67-1416) that detailed the program's rules and fees. This bill directly affects the Attorney General's office by eliminating a specific duty to implement and manage this program. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, with no new program or requirements replacing the repealed provisions.
Idaho's S 1296 amends criminal trespass law to specifically address unauthorized entry into churches or houses of worship. The bill adds that entering such properties without permission, with the intent to intimidate, harass, disrupt services, or disturb religious gatherings, becomes a misdemeanor. Penalties include fines up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail for first offenses, with harsher penalties for repeat violations. This directly affects individuals who trespass on religious properties with malicious intent, expanding existing trespass statutes to protect places of worship.
This Idaho bill revises the law against disturbing the peace to specifically include intentional disruptions at religious gatherings, neighborhoods, families, or individuals through loud noise, fighting, or offensive language near children. It also adds a new provision making it a misdemeanor to disturb funerals, memorial services, or viewings of deceased persons. The law targets individuals who intentionally create such disturbances in these specific settings. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing the legislature with broad support.
This bill revises how Idaho distributes transportation funding from the Highway Distribution Account. It gradually increases the share going to local governments (from 38% to 40% by 2025) while increasing the state highway account share (from 57% to 60%), and eliminates the law enforcement account's allocation. Crucially, it removes a restriction preventing fuel tax revenues (including fees from electric/hybrid vehicles) from being used for highway funding. These changes adjust existing fund distribution formulas without creating new taxes or programs.
Idaho's H 777 updates the state's controlled substances laws by adding specific fentanyl variants (like acetyl fentanyl, beta-methyl fentanyl, and 3-methylthiofentanyl) to Schedule I, the highest control category. It also broadens the definition of "fentanyl-related substances" to include any structurally similar compounds, covering new analogs not explicitly listed. This directly affects pharmacies, hospitals, and law enforcement by requiring stricter handling, registration, and record-keeping for these substances. The bill also makes technical corrections to provisions on drug prescriptions, storage, and disciplinary actions related to controlled substances.
H 697 creates new felony crimes related to election violations in Idaho. It defines three specific offenses: voting illegally (e.g., by someone not entitled to vote or voting multiple times), interfering with elections (e.g., altering ballots or destroying election materials), and tampering with voting machines or tally systems. These provisions replace outdated language and establish clear felony penalties for these actions. The bill directly affects individuals who commit these specific election-related violations, making them subject to criminal prosecution.
