H 561 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS – Amends existing law to revise and remove provisions regarding flags flown by a governmental entity, to provide a penalty, and to establish provisions regarding enforcement by the Attorney General.

Idaho's H 561 revises rules for displaying flags on government property. It specifies which flags governmental entities (like state agencies, counties, and cities) may display - such as the U.S. flag, Idaho flag, military flags, tribal flags, and flags for special occasions - while removing prior restrictions on other flags. Government entities that violate these rules face a $2,000 daily civil penalty. The Attorney General enforces the law, requiring 10 days for correction before penalties apply, and can pursue legal action for ongoing violations.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Signed Apr 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment 1 → Engrossment 2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to include language acknowledging Senate changes and to modify the rules regarding which foreign flags can be displayed on government property. The most significant policy change is the expansion of the list of allowable foreign flags, adding a clause that permits flags to commemorate special occasions or recognize historic international and cross-border relations, while retaining the exclusion of countries currently in hostile action with the U.S.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding eligible flags was broadened to include international flags for diplomatic and historical recognition purposes, whereas the previous version only allowed them for special occasions.

REQUIREMENT

The list of allowable foreign flags was updated to explicitly include flags used to commemorate special occasions or in recognition of historic international and cross-border relations.

TECHNICAL

The title was updated to reflect that the bill has been amended in the Senate.

The numbering of subsections was adjusted to reorganize the structure of the section.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2026 · House Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

27–8

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 36

Mar 24, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican30

27 Yea 2 Nay 1

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President; returned to House

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker

upper

Mar 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rules Suspended: Ayes 65 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 5, read in full as required – PASSED - 59-8-3AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Furniss, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, S

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Concurred in Senate Amendments

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Introduced

Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote - Read in full as required) – Read third time as amended in the Senate – PASSED - 26-8-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Harris, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Guthrie, Hart, Rabe, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, WintrowAbsent and excused – Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - KeyserTitle apvd - to

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

Amendments reported printed

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Introduced

Amendments ordered printed

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Placed in the Committee of the Whole

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to 14th Order for amendment

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time in full as amended – PASSED - 58-11-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mendive, Mickelsen(Athay), Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts,

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Bill as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Amendments Referred to the JRA for Printing

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out without recommendation as amended

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing

lower

0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

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