DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding limitations on digital identification.
S 1299 (Idaho Code §67-2364) prohibits Idaho state agencies and public entities from requiring digital identification for any government service, benefit, or access. It ensures physical identification remains valid, bans denial of services for refusing digital ID, and prevents agencies from tracking individuals or retaining digital ID data beyond a single transaction. The bill also protects device privacy by prohibiting forced device unlocking and restricting digital ID use to immediate verification only. Violations allow affected residents to seek damages of $500-$2,500 per incident or file lawsuits for service denial.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 16, 2026
Signed Apr 1, 2026
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What changed between versions
Bill Text
→
Engrossment 1
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to strengthen enforcement by transferring authority from courts to the Attorney General, who can now issue a 15-day cure notice before taking legal action. The amendment also removed specific rules about incidental observation of digital data and added protections ensuring public employees are not personally liable for their official actions.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding enforcement mechanisms changed from a court-driven process to an administrative process led by the Attorney General.
ENFORCEMENT
Enforcement authority shifted from courts to the Attorney General, who must provide a 15-day notice to allow public entities to fix violations before filing a lawsuit.
REQUIREMENT
Removed specific provisions stating that information seen incidentally on a device cannot be used for probable cause or further searches.
Removed the specific requirement that courts must order immediate relief to remedy ongoing violations.
Added a new provision allowing courts to enforce their orders using contempt authority.
DEFINITION
Added a provision stating that public employees are not personally liable for actions taken within the scope of their employment.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2026 · House Mar 26, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed
Total votes 36
Mar 19, 2026
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
R
Republican30
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
22
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rules Suspended: Ayes 68 Nays 1 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required – PASSED - 70-0-0AYES – 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, Mitchell, Monks, Nels
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full as amended – 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, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - NicholsTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Introduced
Amendments reported printed
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Committee
Amendments ordered printed; referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out without recommendation, as amended
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Placed in the Committee of the Whole
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed; referred to State Affairs
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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