This bill appropriates state funds for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy for the 2027 fiscal year, directly affecting public school districts and charter schools in Idaho. The legislation sets a maximum tuition rate of $40 per student enrollment and mandates that the academy provide remedial coursework for students who are not proficient in state standards. Additionally, the bill requires the academy to offer advanced learning opportunities, such as dual credit courses, in accordance with state education rules. The law becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and was signed into law by the Governor.
This bill allocates $880,000 in state funds to the Idaho Office of the Attorney General for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The money is specifically designated for personnel costs within two programs: State Legal Services and Internet Crimes Against Children. These funds are drawn from the Consumer Protection Fund, which is intended to support the Attorney General's legal duties and activities. The legislation also declares an emergency to ensure the money for fiscal year 2026 becomes available immediately upon signing.
This bill amends Idaho's open meetings law to allow the public to record government meetings, including capturing audio, video, or photographs. It applies to all public agency governing bodies except for specific executive sessions and meetings held in correctional facilities or by the pardons and parole commission. The legislation also clarifies that recording cannot be used as a reason to remove or exclude attendees, while still permitting agencies to take reasonable steps to maintain order during meetings. Additionally, the bill permits meetings to be conducted via telecommunications devices like video conferencing, as long as at least one member remains physically present and communications remain audible to the public.
H 674 revises Idaho's rules for when telephone companies can stop providing service in a community. It requires companies to either provide equivalent service from another provider or follow federal FCC procedures before discontinuing service. The bill also adds a new section requiring Idaho's utility commission to accept the FCC's findings on service discontinuation under federal law. This directly affects telephone corporations operating in Idaho and their customers in areas where service might be withdrawn, with the law taking effect on July 1, 2026.
Idaho's H 542, the "Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act," targets major social media platforms (those earning $1+ billion in global ad revenue) operating in Idaho. It directly affects children under 16 by restricting platforms' use of specific "addictive interface features" like infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, and profile-based feeds. The law triggers two usage-based restrictions: after 25 cumulative hours in six months, platforms must notify parents; after 50 hours, they must disable addictive features for minors. The bill defines key terms and establishes enforcement mechanisms, focusing on protecting Idaho children's online experiences without banning social media use.
This bill amends Idaho law to create a new Division of Career Technical Education within the state board of education, led by an appointed administrator. The division will coordinate career technical education efforts, develop virtual course options, and maintain a list of pathways that can be delivered online, in person, or through a mix of both. It also establishes new criteria for issuing teaching certificates to career technical education instructors, allowing individuals with industry certifications, significant professional experience, or relevant degrees to qualify if they complete approved training. Additionally, the bill ensures that postsecondary credits earned in career technical programs transfer at full value between public Idaho colleges and universities.
S 1299 (Idaho Code §67-2364) prohibits Idaho state agencies and public entities from requiring digital identification for any government service, benefit, or access. It ensures physical identification remains valid, bans denial of services for refusing digital ID, and prevents agencies from tracking individuals or retaining digital ID data beyond a single transaction. The bill also protects device privacy by prohibiting forced device unlocking and restricting digital ID use to immediate verification only. Violations allow affected residents to seek damages of $500-$2,500 per incident or file lawsuits for service denial.
This bill consolidates Idaho's STEM education programs under the Workforce Development Council by repealing the separate Idaho STEM Action Center structure. It transfers responsibilities like computer science education initiatives, STEM funding oversight, and program coordination to the Council. The key change revises references from "STEM Action Center" to "Workforce Development Council" in all relevant laws, streamlining oversight of K-12 computer science programs and STEM education funding.
H 742 amends Idaho law to allow electronic motor vehicle records as proof of ownership, reducing the need for paper documents during title transfers. It authorizes Idaho vehicle dealers to directly cancel or remove liens from vehicle titles when loans are paid off, without requiring owners to seek separate assistance. These changes streamline the process for buying and selling vehicles by simplifying lien removal and enabling digital record-keeping.
H 727 updates Idaho's laws on video voyeurism and the disclosure of realistic computer-generated media (like deepfakes). It revises definitions to better protect privacy, clarifying what constitutes "intimate areas" and places where people reasonably expect privacy, such as changing rooms or bedrooms. The bill creates a new offense for knowingly sharing synthetic media depicting an identifiable person in sexual acts or intimate areas without consent - this is a misdemeanor, but becomes a felony (up to 10 years in prison or $25,000 fine) if the victim is under 18 or the person has a prior conviction. This directly affects individuals who create or share such media without consent and law enforcement handling related cases.
