CRIMINAL LIBEL – Repeals and adds to existing law to provide for the crime of criminal libel, to provide penalties, to provide for restitution to a victim, and to provide for jurisdiction to prosecute.

H 306 repeals Idaho's existing libel law and creates a new criminal offense for publishing false statements about others with "actual malice" (knowing they are false or disregarding their truth). It defines criminal libel as a felony punishable by up to $100,000 in fines, five years in prison, or both, and requires convicted individuals to pay restitution to victims for specific costs like lost wages or legal fees. The law primarily affects people who spread malicious falsehoods online or otherwise, with county prosecutors handling most cases and the Attorney General overseeing cases involving state officials' conduct. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill aims to address reputational harm caused by false statements amplified through social media.