Environment (Public Lands)

passed both · Idaho · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SCR 123: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISTS – States findings of the Legislature and supports recognizing 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

This bill is a concurrent resolution that formally recognizes and supports Idaho's designation of 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. It highlights the importance of rangelands as natural ecosystems used for grazing and notes their economic, social, and cultural value to Idaho communities and pastoralists. The resolution expresses legislative support for sustainable livestock grazing, balanced public use, and collaboration among various land management groups to maintain healthy working landscapes. It does not create new laws or regulations but serves as a formal statement of the Legislature's position on this global initiative.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes recognition of rangelands as valuable ecosystems and supports sustainable livestock grazing, which aligns with environmental conservation goals.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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signed · Idaho · Senate Apr 1, 2026

S 1427: APPROPRIATIONS – DEPARTMENT OF LANDS – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Lands for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

This bill allocates funding to the Idaho Department of Lands for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, directing specific amounts to support personnel costs, capital projects, and trustee benefit payments across various programs including business services, forest resources, trust land management, fire protection, and minerals. The legislation provides $2.7 million for fiscal year 2027 and $285,000 for fiscal year 2026, while simultaneously reducing certain appropriations from previous budgets to balance the overall funding. It designates $145,000 specifically for the Idaho Geological Survey and allows the Forest and Range Fire Protection Program to receive unlimited transfers from other departmental funds for both fiscal years. Additionally, the bill limits General Fund bonuses to firefighters with incident qualification cards and requires a report on 2026 fire season bonus awards to be submitted by January 5, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates funding to Idaho Department of Lands for fiscal years 2026-2027, supporting personnel costs, capital projects, and trustee benefit payments across various programs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates funding to Idaho Department of Lands for forest resources, fire protection, and trust land management, which supports environmental conservation and natural resource protection.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Forestry Public Lands

in committee · Idaho · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SJR 103: LANDS – Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to establish provisions for the management of certain lands granted or acquired from the federal government.

SJR 103 proposes a constitutional amendment to manage Idaho's lands acquired from the federal government. It creates two trust systems: one for lands granted under specific historical conditions (allowing limited sales at fair market value with annual limits), and a permanent trust for all other federal lands that **cannot be sold** but may be leased. Revenue from the permanent trust fund must support public lands management, county compensation, improved public access, and K-12 education. The amendment requires voter approval and would prevent future legislative sales of these protected lands while directing funds toward public benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRevenue from permanent trust fund mandated for K-12 education and public lands management, directly funding essential programs per bill language.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRevenue from permanent trust fund must support K-12 education funding per bill summary, explicitly allocating resources to this topic area.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds public lands management via permanent trust revenue, preventing land sales and supporting conservation efforts as required by the amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Public Lands

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in committee · Idaho · House Feb 19, 2026

HJR 10: PUBLIC LANDS – Proposes an amendment to the state constitution regarding state-owned lands.

HJR 10 proposes a constitutional amendment to Idaho's Article IX, Section 8, changing how state-owned lands must be managed. It would require the state board of land commissioners to prioritize revenue-generating activities (like timber sales, mining, and grazing) over public access for recreation, hunting, fishing, and trapping, as long as access doesn't interfere with revenue operations. The amendment also sets specific limits: no land sales below appraised value, maximum annual sales of 100 sections (640 acres each), and no single buyer can purchase more than 320 acres at a time. This is a procedural proposal requiring voter approval at the next general election.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrioritizes revenue-generating land uses (timber, mining, grazing) over public access for recreation/hunting/fishing, weakening conservation protections per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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signed · Idaho · House Mar 13, 2026

H 587: RANGELAND IMPROVEMENT – Amends existing law to allow continuous appropriation of the rangeland improvement account.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill eliminates annual budget approvals for rangeland funding, ensuring consistent appropriation and streamlining fiscal management of the account per APPROPRIATIONS subject.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill streamlines funding for rangeland improvements, supporting sustainable land management and conservation efforts under Idaho's Fish and Game program.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 5, 2026

HJR 8: PUBLIC LANDS – Proposes an amendment to the state constitution regarding state-owned lands.

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.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrioritizes revenue-generating activities (timber/leasing) over public access for recreation/hunting/fishing, undermining conservation-focused land management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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passed · Idaho · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 1328: DEPARTMENT OF LANDS – Amends existing law regarding counsel for the Department of Lands.

S 1328 amends multiple Idaho Code sections to update forest fire protection and land management rules. It clarifies that individuals responsible for uncontrolled fires must immediately act to control them, and the state can recover fire suppression costs through civil action. The bill limits property damage claims to specific categories - fire control costs, verifiable economic losses, and either restoration costs or property value loss - with a 10-year statute of limitations. It also specifies that timber owners must cover fire protection costs on their land, and the Department of Lands can place liens on timber to recover unpaid expenses.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill updates forest fire protection rules requiring immediate fire control and state cost recovery, strengthening natural resource management and fire prevention as part of environmental protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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passed both · Idaho · House Feb 23, 2026

HJM 9: FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT – States findings of the Legislature and requests federal intervention to ensure proper application of FLPMA.

Idaho's HJM 9 is a joint memorial urging Congress to reaffirm the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) as the primary law for managing public lands. The resolution states that a recent legal challenge in Idaho threatens FLPMA's established processes for land exchanges - critical for managing intermingled federal, state, and private lands across the West - and requests congressional action to prevent disruption to land management and existing exchanges. It emphasizes FLPMA's role since 1976 in providing consistent, predictable administration of public lands for multiple uses.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentSupports FLPMA, a law critical for public land conservation and natural resource management. Aims to preserve land exchange processes that maintain environmental protections on federal lands.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands

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in committee · Idaho · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SJR 102: LANDS – Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to establish provisions for the management of certain lands granted or acquired from the federal government.

This proposed constitutional amendment would require Idaho to place certain lands granted or acquired from the federal government into a permanent public trust. It prohibits selling these lands (except for land exchanges approved by two-thirds of the legislature) and mandates management focused on conservation, public access, and long-term resource protection. Revenue from leases on these lands would fund a new "public lands trust fund," used for land maintenance, county compensation, public access improvements, and support for public schools. The amendment must be approved by Idaho voters to take effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new trust fund from land lease revenue to fund maintenance and county compensation, directly allocating dedicated revenue for public land management.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates conservation-focused management of federal lands, prohibits sales except for exchanges, funds trust for resource protection and maintenance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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passed both · Idaho · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SJM 108: DEPREDATION – States findings of the Legislature and calls on the federal government to protect Idaho citizens who file depredation claims.

This is a Joint Memorial (not a bill), passed by the Idaho Legislature, calling on the federal government to protect livestock operators who report wildlife depredation (attacks by wolves or bears on livestock). It asks the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Interior to stop using depredation reports as a reason to modify or revoke federal grazing permits. The memorial states that Idaho ranchers fear reporting attacks due to potential federal retaliation, even though the state provides compensation for livestock losses. It directly affects Idaho livestock operators with federal grazing permits on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. The request seeks a federal policy change to allow ranchers to report depredation without risking their grazing rights.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill opposes federal environmental regulations by seeking to prevent use of depredation reports to restrict grazing permits, prioritizing rancher interests over wildlife management policies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Wildlife

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