PORTABLE BENEFIT PLAN ACT – Adds to existing law to establish the Portable Benefit Plan Act.
Idaho's H 645, the Portable Benefit Plan Act, creates a system for independent contractors to access portable benefits through accounts funded by hiring parties. It allows companies to contribute to these accounts (without reclassifying workers as employees) and specifies that contributions are fully deductible as a business expense for hiring parties and excluded from taxable income for contractors. The bill establishes clear definitions, administration rules for benefit accounts, and tax treatment, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects independent contractors (who gain access to benefits like health, retirement, and disability insurance) and hiring parties (who can voluntarily fund these accounts). The law does not change worker classification status but provides tax advantages for both parties.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Feb 12, 2026
Signed Mar 24, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2026 · House Feb 26, 2026
How they voted
26–6
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 35
Mar 17, 2026
D
Democratic5
80% Nay
R
Republican30
86% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
7
Committee
3
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full – PASSED - 25-7-3AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Toews, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Foreman, Guthrie, Ruchti, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woller(Rabe)Absent and excused – Semmelroth, Shippy, VanOrdenFloor Sponsor - Den HartogTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human Resources
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 64-3-3AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Business
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about H 645
Scope: ID
Hi! I can help you understand H 645. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline