Technology

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 17, 2026

H 709: TRANSACTIONS – Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding programmable money.

Idaho's H 709 establishes a legal framework for "programmable money" (digital currency that can be programmed for specific uses) by amending the state code. The bill explicitly excludes programmable money from the definition of "money" in Idaho law and creates a new Chapter 54 to define terms, limit its use, provide remedies for violations, and establish criminal penalties. This directly affects businesses and consumers using programmable money within Idaho by setting clear regulatory boundaries. The law aims to address legal gaps around this emerging financial technology while ensuring consumer protection and enforcement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes legal framework for programmable money, enabling its use with consumer protections and clear regulatory boundaries.90% confidence

Track

signed · Idaho · House Mar 25, 2026

H 727: SEX CRIMES – Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding video voyeurism and to revise a penalty for disclosing explicit synthetic media.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new offense for non-consensual deepfakes and clarifies privacy protections, strengthening victim safeguards under sex offenses law.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill criminalizes non-consensual deepfake sharing to protect privacy, directly addressing synthetic media misuse under tech regulation for consumer safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

vetoed · Idaho · House Apr 2, 2026

H 674: TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE – Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the discontinuation of telecommunication service.

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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires telecoms to maintain service continuity, preventing disruptions to access - supports reliable internet infrastructure85% confidence

Sub-Topics Telecommunications

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signed · Idaho · House Mar 20, 2026

H 599: EDUCATION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Public School Digital Content and Curriculum Fund.

This bill establishes the Public School Digital Content and Curriculum Fund in Idaho's state treasury, administered by the Idaho Department of Education. It provides state funding for public school districts (including specialized programs like the Idaho Bureau of Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind) to purchase digital content, curriculum, and academic text support systems that directly improve student achievement in areas like reading, math, career readiness, and college preparation. School districts must demonstrate how requested funds (capped at $50,000 per request) will help meet measurable student performance targets outlined in their continuous improvement plans, with funding distributed first-come, first-served based on needs-based criteria. The bill also specifies that funds are continuously appropriated and interest earned must be returned to the fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state fund for public school digital curriculum, increasing budget allocation for education spending without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state fund for digital curriculum/content to improve student achievement in reading/math/career readiness, directly funding educational resources.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds digital content and curriculum for schools, directly supporting educational technology use and aligning with Science and Technology subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 10, 2026

H 609: TAXATION – Amends existing law to revise a sales tax exemption for data center equipment and to revise a property tax exemption for certain capital investments.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends tax exemptions for data centers with investment/job requirements, providing targeted tax relief to businesses under Budget & Taxes policy framework.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates water conservation practices (e.g., cooling water recycling) for data centers, directly advancing environmental protection through regulatory requirements.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExtends tax exemptions for data center infrastructure, incentivizing investment and job creation in tech facilities, aligning with tech growth support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Sales Tax Tax Incentives Conservation Recycling

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in committee · Idaho · House Feb 6, 2026

H 597: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the powers and duties of the Office of Information Technology Services.

H 597 revises Idaho Code to update the powers and duties of the Office of Information Technology Services (OITS), strengthening state IT management and cybersecurity oversight. The bill grants OITS authority to control IT purchases across most state agencies (with exceptions for higher education, legislative/judicial branches, and public safety equipment) and requires agencies to implement cybersecurity training, multifactor authentication for system access, and criminal background checks for IT staff in specific roles like network engineering and security. It also updates OITS's responsibilities to oversee cybersecurity policies, vulnerability testing, and statewide cybersecurity best practices. These changes directly affect all state government departments, institutions, and IT personnel involved in state systems.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly strengthens cybersecurity through mandatory training, MFA, and OITS oversight, aligning with 'enhances cybersecurity' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity

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in committee · Idaho · House Feb 17, 2026

H 675: BROADBAND – Amends existing law to revise the definition of broadband.

Idaho's H 675 revises the legal definition of "broadband" to require a minimum download speed of 100 Mbps and upload speed of 20 Mbps. This change directly affects broadband providers (including internet companies, electric cooperatives, and government entities) and infrastructure projects needing to meet this standard. The bill updates existing law to align with current technical requirements for high-speed internet access, replacing outdated definitions. It also clarifies related terms like "broadband infrastructure" and "broadband provider" to ensure consistent application in state regulations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyUpdates broadband definition to modern speed standards (100/20 Mbps), advancing infrastructure requirements for high-speed internet access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

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signed · Idaho · Senate Apr 1, 2026

S 1299: DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding limitations on digital identification.

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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits mandatory digital ID, bans data retention/tracking, and protects device privacy - directly aligns with data privacy protections in tech policy indicators.90% confidence

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 23, 2026

H 744: BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the capture or use of biometric identifiers.

H 744 establishes rules for commercial use of biometric identifiers (like fingerprints, facial scans, or voiceprints) in Idaho. It requires businesses to get explicit consent before collecting such data and prohibits selling or sharing it without specific exceptions (e.g., for financial transactions or law enforcement with a warrant). Businesses must store biometric data securely, destroy it within one year after its purpose expires (or upon user revocation of consent), and face civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation. The law excludes financial institutions and certain AI development activities from its requirements. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires explicit consent for biometric data collection, prohibits unauthorized sharing, mandates secure storage and destruction - enhancing consumer data privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection

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signed · Idaho · House Mar 30, 2026

H 761: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL – Amends and repeals existing law to provide for the consolidation of the Idaho STEM Action Center into the Workforce Development Council.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationConsolidates STEM education oversight under Workforce Council, maintaining program funding and coordination without defunding or restricting K-12 STEM initiatives.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill consolidates STEM education programs including computer science initiatives under workforce council, advancing tech education funding and coordination through administrative streamlining.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education