SMALL CLAIMS DEPARTMENT OF THE MAGISTRATE DIVISION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the scope of a claim and attorney’s fees.
This Idaho bill (S 1330) increases the monetary limit for small claims cases in magistrate courts from $5,000 to $15,000 for both money claims and personal property claims. It directly affects individuals and small businesses filing or defending such cases in Idaho's magistrate divisions. The bill clarifies that these courts cannot award punitive damages or compensation for pain/suffering in small claims proceedings. The amendment to Idaho Code § 1-2301 takes effect July 1, 2026.
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 19, 2026
Signed Apr 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill Text
→
Engrossment 1
·
2 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to clarify that it also updates the rules for attorney's fees when appealing a small claims judgment. Previously, the text only mentioned revising the scope of claims in the Small Claims Department. The amendment adds a specific provision requiring an additional $25 attorney's fee for the prevailing party if a case is appealed to a lawyer magistrate, while keeping the original $20 filing fee for the appeal.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded from solely revising the monetary limits of small claims to also include amendments regarding attorney's fees for appeals within the magistrate division.
REQUIREMENT
Added a requirement for an additional $25 attorney's fee to be paid to the prevailing party if a small claims judgment is appealed to a lawyer magistrate.
SCOPE
Updated the bill title and summary to reflect that it amends two separate sections of the Idaho Code (one regarding claim limits and one regarding attorney's fees).
Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2026 · House Mar 25, 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 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 67-0-3AYES – 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, Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Ra
lower
Mar 23, 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 - GallowayTitle 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 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed; referred to Judiciary & Rules
upper
Feb 19, 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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