HCR 26 is a concurrent resolution expressing the Idaho Legislature's support for wildlife crossings. It states that wildlife-vehicle collisions endanger public safety and cause significant property damage, while noting that infrastructure like overpasses and underpasses can reduce collisions by over 80% and protect migration corridors for species like mule deer and elk. The resolution encourages state and local governments to collaborate on identifying priority sites for such crossings and to adopt policies preserving migration corridors. It does not create new laws or funding but formally supports existing efforts to enhance public safety and wildlife conservation.
H 587 amends Idaho law to allow the rangeland improvement account to be used automatically each year without needing separate annual budget approvals. This affects the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (which manages the account) and ranchers who benefit from rangeland improvements funded through the account. The bill requires the department to provide annual reports to specific legislative committees detailing all funding sources and uses for the account. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, streamlining funding for ongoing rangeland conservation projects.
This bill amends Idaho law to change how wildlife relocation projects, particularly for bighorn sheep, are handled. It requires the Director of Fish and Game to provide 30 days' notice to county commissions and landowners within 5 miles of proposed relocation sites, and to submit annual relocation plans to legislative leaders. County boards must hold public hearings within 30 days if landowners request one, and can approve or reject relocation plans. The changes aim to increase local input before moving wildlife, directly affecting the Department of Fish and Game, county officials, and landowners near proposed relocation areas.
This bill updates Idaho's hazardous waste management laws by replacing the previous facility siting process with a new system. It creates requirements for siting licenses, establishes site review panels, and sets minimum criteria for hazardous waste facility locations. The bill prohibits local governments from restricting such facilities and mandates new reporting rules for waste management. These changes directly affect hazardous waste treatment/storage/disposal facilities, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and local governments.
H 737 merges Idaho's Office of Species Conservation and Office of Energy and Mineral Resources into a single "Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination" to streamline natural resource management. The new office, led by a governor-appointed administrator, will coordinate state and federal permitting for projects involving species conservation, energy development, and mineral resources, aiming to reduce regulatory burden and improve decision-making timelines. The bill updates multiple Idaho Code sections to establish this office, define key terms like "species" and "mineral," and clarify its role as the state's primary liaison to federal agencies. This consolidation does not create new regulations or approval layers but integrates existing state functions under one administrative structure.
H 676 amends Idaho water law to explicitly allow municipalities to secure rights for geothermal water used in heating and cooling systems. It requires municipal applicants to provide detailed documentation on where and how low-temperature geothermal water will be injected back into the ground after use. This update revises application rules and definitions to accommodate geothermal projects while ensuring environmental compliance. The bill passed the Idaho House of Representatives in February 2026 with strong bipartisan support.
This bill revises Idaho's tax exemptions for data center equipment and capital investments. It extends a sales tax exemption for eligible server equipment, chillers, and new data center facilities (like buildings and cooling systems) but requires qualifying businesses to commit to investing at least $250 million in Idaho data centers within five years and creating 30+ new, full-time jobs. The exemption also mandates water conservation practices for data centers (e.g., recycling cooling water, using reclaimed water) and requires businesses to notify local water providers about anticipated water needs. If businesses fail to meet investment or job targets within the specified timeframes, they must pay retroactive sales or use taxes. The changes apply only to new data center projects meeting these criteria, not existing tax exemptions.
Idaho's H 630 amends state law to allow permits for shooting coyotes, wolves, and red foxes from aircraft to protect livestock, crops, or land. Landowners must provide written permission for operations on their property, and permit holders must submit quarterly reports to the agriculture department. The bill specifies that red fox control is permitted year-round in designated hunting areas or where predation is causing problems outside those areas. It also eliminates existing administrative rules about this practice, effective July 2026.
This proposed constitutional amendment would change how Idaho manages state-owned lands by prioritizing revenue-generating activities (like leasing or timber sales) before public access for recreation, hunting, and fishing. It requires that any state land sale must meet or exceed appraised value, limits annual land sales to 100 parcels (each max 320 acres), and creates a dedicated fund to maintain public lands using revenue from these activities. The amendment affects state land management practices, public access rights, and future land transactions. It requires voter approval at the next general election to take effect.
HJM 13 is a joint memorial from the Idaho Legislature requesting federal agencies to align their enforcement of the Clean Water Act with the Supreme Court's 2023 Sackett decision. It asks the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to stop claiming jurisdiction over intermittent streams, ditches, canals, and stockwater ponds - features not considered "waters of the United States" under the Court's ruling. The memorial urges agencies to update policies, training, and guidance to reflect this standard, which requires a continuous surface connection to traditional water bodies like rivers or lakes. This addresses concerns that current federal overreach increases costs and delays for Idaho landowners, farmers, and infrastructure projects. The request is directed at federal agencies and Idaho's congressional delegation, not a binding law.
