Transportation

signed · Idaho · House Apr 1, 2026

H 629: TRANSPORTATION – Amends existing law to provide for a printed copy of a registration card for vehicles.

H 629 (Idaho House Bill 629) amends Idaho law to allow electronic vehicle registration, directly affecting all Idaho vehicle owners and the Idaho Department of Transportation. The bill revises Section 49-202 to update procedures for replacing physical registration and amends Section 49-427 to explicitly permit an electronic registration format. This change eliminates the need for physical registration stickers by enabling electronic verification, while maintaining existing fee structures for services like duplicate registration copies. The bill passed the Idaho House 43-26 and is now moving to the Senate.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAmends transportation law to modernize vehicle registration via electronic format, streamlining processes for vehicle owners and DOT while maintaining fee structures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Vehicle Registration

signed · Idaho · House Mar 23, 2026

H 716: TRANSPORTATION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding apportionment of the Highway Distribution Account, to remove a limitation regarding revenues received from fuel taxes, and to revise a provision regarding the distribution of the tax on special fuels.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes restrictions on using fuel tax revenues for highway funding and reallocates existing tax distributions to prioritize highway infrastructure, promoting efficient fiscal management of transportation budgets.90% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill eliminates law enforcement account allocation within transportation funding, directly defunding law enforcement which falls under criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases highway funding allocations (local 38%→40%, state 57%→60%) and removes restrictions on using fuel tax revenues for transportation infrastructure, directly advancing highway funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

signed · Idaho · House Mar 30, 2026

H 570: RECKLESS DRIVING – Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding reckless driving.

This Idaho bill amends reckless driving laws to clarify specific dangerous driving scenarios: it adds penalties for exceeding speed limits by 20+ mph in school/construction zones and for passing when sight distance is restricted. It also creates "inattentive driving" as a separate, lesser offense (max $300 fine or 90 days jail) for less severe cases, while maintaining stricter penalties for true reckless driving (up to $2,000 fine or 1 year jail for repeat offenses within 5 years). The bill directly affects drivers who commit these specific violations, particularly repeat offenders. The changes aim to better categorize driving behaviors and adjust penalties accordingly, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAmends reckless driving laws to enhance road safety in school/construction zones and establishes clearer penalties, directly advancing transportation safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

in committee · Idaho · House Jan 19, 2026

H 490: RECKLESS DRIVING – Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding reckless driving.

Idaho bill H 490 revises the state's reckless driving law (Idaho Code §49-1401). It adds a specific prohibition against passing when a lane line indicates a sight distance restriction and clarifies that driving 20+ mph over the speed limit in school or construction zones constitutes reckless driving. The bill creates a new "inattentive driving" offense for less severe cases (e.g., minor carelessness), punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $300 fine, while maintaining tiered penalties for reckless driving: first-time offenders face up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine, and repeat offenders within 5 years face up to 1 year jail or $2,000 fine plus automatic license suspension. This law directly affects drivers convicted of these traffic violations, with changes taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds new 'inattentive driving' offense with penalties, expanding criminalization per oppose indicators (increases criminalization, not reform).95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAmends reckless driving law to prohibit passing in sight-restricted zones and increase penalties for speeding in school/construction zones, enhancing road safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Driver Licensing

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in committee · Idaho · House Jan 28, 2026

H 535: TRANSPORTATION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding apportionment of the Highway Distribution Account, to remove a limitation regarding revenues received from fuel taxes, and to revise a provision regarding the distribution of the tax on special fuels.

H 535 revises Idaho's transportation funding formulas to adjust how highway account revenues are distributed. It increases the percentage of funds going to local governments from 38% (2021) to 40% (2025+) while decreasing the state highway account share from 57% to 60%, and eliminates a restriction on using fuel tax revenues. The bill also updates allocations for local bridge inspections and special fuel taxes. These changes directly affect local governments receiving highway funds and the state highway program. The bill makes technical adjustments to existing law without creating new programs or altering tax rates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases local government funding share from 38% to 40% of highway funds, redirects existing revenues toward public infrastructure, and removes restrictions on fuel tax use for transportation spending.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases local government transportation funding from 38% to 40% and removes restrictions on fuel tax revenues, directly advancing infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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signed · Idaho · Senate Mar 25, 2026

S 1224: TRANSPORTATION – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding slow moving vehicles.

This Idaho bill (S 1224) amends traffic laws for slow-moving vehicles like farm tractors, construction equipment, and farm machinery. It requires these vehicles to have rear emblems, headlights during nighttime hours (30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise), and prohibits operation above 25 mph unless designed for higher speeds. The bill also adds an exception for emergency/snow removal vehicles during public safety operations and clarifies when drivers must pull over on two-lane highways when three or more vehicles follow a slow-moving vehicle. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAdds safety requirements for slow-moving vehicles (emblems, headlights, speed limits) enhancing road safety standards under transportation regulations.92% confidence

signed · Idaho · House Mar 17, 2026

H 500: MOTOR VEHICLES – Amends existing law to provide for human-powered vehicles, bicycles, and electric-assisted bicycles.

This Idaho bill (H 500) updates traffic laws to explicitly include human-powered vehicles, bicycles, and electric-assisted bicycles under existing motor vehicle regulations. It requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid collisions with these vehicles and gives riders the same rights and duties as motor vehicle drivers (except where impractical). Key provisions ban riding without a permanent seat, limit passenger capacity to the vehicle's design, and allow secure child carriers. The changes apply to all riders of these vehicles and take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by granting cyclists rights/duties under traffic laws, requiring driver due care, and establishing clear safety standards for human-powered vehicles.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Bicycle Infrastructure

in committee · Idaho · House Jan 22, 2026

H 509: IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT – Amends existing law to provide that certain vehicles shall not be subject to more than one inspection within a seventy-two-hour period.

H 509 limits repeated inspections for certain commercial trucks in Idaho. It amends state law to ensure vehicles weighing over 26,001 pounds (excluding those carrying hazardous materials) cannot be inspected more than once within a 72-hour period after an initial inspection at state checkpoints. The Idaho Transportation Department must implement technology to allow these vehicles to bypass redundant inspections during that window. This directly affects commercial truck drivers and operators hauling goods within Idaho, reducing unnecessary stops and delays. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationReduces redundant inspections for commercial trucks, improving efficiency and safety in transportation operations without weakening standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Freight

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