S 1340 Idaho Senate · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

RULES OF THE ROAD – Amends existing law to require drivers to drive in the right-hand lane on multilane highways unless passing and to provide penalties for driving in the left-hand lane of a controlled access highway and impeding the flow of traffic.

Idaho's S 1340 amends traffic laws to require drivers on multilane highways to use the right-hand lane unless passing, preparing for a left turn, or overtaking slower vehicles. It specifically prohibits driving in the left lane when not passing, and mandates that vehicles moving slower than normal traffic must stay in the right lane to avoid impeding faster vehicles. Violations - including driving slowly in the left lane - carry a $75 fine under amended sections 49-630 and 49-655 of the Idaho Code. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and includes signage requirements to inform drivers.
Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Failed
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Feb 25, 2026 Last action Mar 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text Engrossment 1 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to clarify that slow-moving vehicles must stay in the right-hand lane on highways with four or more lanes, rather than just three. The text was also updated to specify that the left lane should not be used when obstructed by slow traffic, and the numbering of the relevant subsections was adjusted to maintain consistency.
Scope change
The scope of the slow-moving vehicle restriction was expanded from highways with three marked lanes to highways with four or more lanes.
REQUIREMENT

The requirement to drive in the right-hand lane when moving slower than normal traffic now applies to highways with four or more lanes instead of three.

The exception allowing use of the left lane was updated to include situations where right-hand lanes are obstructed by vehicles traveling at less than normal speed.

TECHNICAL

The numbering of the subsections regarding lane usage was reorganized to align with the new scope and correct the reference from subsection (2) to subsection (3).

Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House Mar 17, 2026

How they voted

2113
Passed
Total votes 34
Mar 9, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican28
15 Yea 13 Nay
53% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Mar 17, 2026
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (27-38)
house
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full as amended – PASSED - 21-14-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Burtenshaw, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Guthrie, Harris, Lent, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ruchti, Rundhaug(Carlson), Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Coho(Lenney), Foreman, Grow, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Nichols, Ricks, Toews, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - HarrisTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Introduced
Amendments reported printed
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
Amendments ordered printed; referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out without recommendation, as amended
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Placed in the Committee of the Whole
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed; referred to Transportation
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.