H 579 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE – Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding justifiable homicide.

This bill amends Idaho's justifiable homicide law (Section 18-4009) to clarify when force is justified in defense of property or persons. It directly affects individuals claiming self-defense during unlawful entries into homes, businesses, or vehicles. The key change adds a presumption: if someone unlawfully enters a habitation, business, or vehicle by force or stealth, they are presumed to intend to commit a felony. This shifts the burden of proof in such cases, making it easier to establish self-defense under specific entry scenarios. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Feb 13, 2026
Floor votes · House Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

631
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 65
Feb 12, 2026
D Democratic8
6 Yea 1 Nay 1
75% Yea
R Republican57
57 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Feb 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 68-1-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias(Carlson), McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.