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H 676 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

GEOTHERMAL – Amends existing law to provide for the municipal use of geothermal water.

H 676 amends Idaho water law to explicitly allow municipalities to secure rights for geothermal water used in heating and cooling systems. It requires municipal applicants to provide detailed documentation on where and how low-temperature geothermal water will be injected back into the ground after use. This update revises application rules and definitions to accommodate geothermal projects while ensuring environmental compliance. The bill passed the Idaho House of Representatives in February 2026 with strong bipartisan support.
Issues: ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables municipal geothermal heating/cooling systems, advancing renewable energy infrastructure under Idaho water law with environmental safeguards.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires environmental compliance via groundwater reinjection for geothermal projects, promoting renewable energy use while preventing pollution per bill's explicit environmental safeguards.90% confidence
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 16, 2026 Signed Mar 20, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 16, 2026 · House Feb 26, 2026

How they voted

35–0
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 16, 2026
D Democratic5
5 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican30
30 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
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 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woller(Rabe), Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - CookTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 9, 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: Resources & Environment
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 68-2-0AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Ray
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.