This Idaho bill (S 1041) updates rules for managing shared irrigation infrastructure like ditches and conduits. It clarifies who appoints a manager when multiple water users share a conduit: the watermaster (or an irrigation district's board if they own the main system) must appoint one upon request. It also changes how manager compensation is handled - district boards now calculate payments based on acres irrigated, then distribute them to users before the irrigation season ends. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting farmers and landowners who share irrigation water systems.
Idaho's S 1107 allocates $28.5 million in funding for the Department of Correction during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), covering personnel, operating, and capital costs across all state correctional facilities. It directly affects Idaho's prison system, including institutions like the Idaho State Correctional Institution in Boise and the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center, by setting specific budget amounts for each facility and program. Key provisions include limiting full-time equivalent positions, requiring accountability reports, and exempting the funding from certain program transfer restrictions. The bill became law after Governor's signature on March 12, 2025, taking effect July 1, 2025.
This bill appropriates $98.4 million to Idaho's Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), funding court operations, staff salaries, technology, and specialized programs like drug courts. It exempts the Judicial Branch from standard budget transfer restrictions, allowing flexible reallocation of funds within its programs. The bill also requires timely retirement contributions for judges and reappropriates up to $16.2 million in unused ARPA funds for nonrecurring judicial expenses. It directly affects all state courts, judicial staff, and programs funded through the Judicial Branch, including senior judges and community substance use treatment services.
Idaho's S 1013 requires new trappers (those without a license before July 1, 2011) to complete a state-approved trapping education program and obtain a certificate before receiving a trapping license. The bill updates licensing rules to mandate this education, similar to existing requirements for hunters and archers. It also allows supervised trapping under licensed outfitters/guides (with a big game license) while ensuring compliance with reporting and tagging rules. The law establishes a $8 fee for all participants in trapping education programs to cover materials, and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Idaho's H 26 establishes a state ABLE account program, allowing residents with disabilities to save for qualified expenses (like education or housing) without losing eligibility for state assistance programs like Medicaid. The bill requires the state treasurer to partner with a national ABLE consortium, protects ABLE account assets when determining eligibility for state aid, and directs the Idaho State Independent Living Council to provide technical assistance and financial literacy resources. It also creates an ABLE Account Advisory Council with members including disability advocates, veterans' representatives, and ABLE account owners to guide outreach and program development. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.
This Idaho bill (S 1014) updates health regulations for newborns by replacing outdated requirements with new, standardized procedures. It mandates that hospitals and healthcare providers apply antibiotic eye drops to all newborns to prevent gonorrhea eye infections (following CDC guidelines), require blood specimen collection for testing newborns for preventable diseases like phenylketonuria (PKU), and establish clear reporting protocols for eye inflammation or other reportable conditions. These changes directly affect hospitals, birth facilities, and healthcare providers handling newborns in Idaho. The bill repeals older, conflicting rules about eye treatments and reporting while aligning procedures with current medical standards.
This bill appropriates $765,800 from the State Regulatory Fund to Idaho's Department of Finance for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates funds for personnel costs ($671,300), operations ($25,000), and capital projects ($69,500), while authorizing five additional full-time staff positions. The bill directly affects the Department of Finance and its employees by providing funding for salaries, operations, and equipment. It declares an emergency to take effect July 1, 2025, though it failed in the Senate (29-37 vote) in March 2025.
This Idaho bill (H 19) amends laws governing criminal history record access. It authorizes state/local governments, licensing agencies, and private entities serving vulnerable populations (like children or the elderly) to submit fingerprints to the Bureau of Criminal Identification for background checks. Key changes include designating the Bureau as Idaho's sole source for FBI fingerprint submissions, requiring written requests with personal identification for record access, and mandating a clear warning that "an arrest without disposition is not an indication of guilt" on all records. The bill also restricts sharing criminal history data without consent, except to criminal justice agencies or courts. It takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill (H 31) amends Idaho law to require third-party providers (like insurance companies) that normally require prior authorization for medical services to accept authorizations issued by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for medical assistance recipients. It directly affects medical assistance recipients and third-party healthcare providers. The key provision mandates that if a third party needs prior authorization for services covered under Idaho's Medicaid program, they must accept the state's authorization as if it were their own. This streamlines the process for recipients seeking covered services without requiring duplicate approvals from providers. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill requires the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide data security compliance training for staff and contractors handling systems that store driver's license and vehicle registration records. It directly affects the DMV and any private contractors working with these systems. The key provision amends existing law (Idaho Code § 49-202) to mandate this training, ensuring personnel using DMV data systems meet security standards. The change applies to all systems managing sensitive personal information, including driver's license records and vehicle titles. The bill became law on July 1, 2025.
This Idaho bill (H 48) revises requirements for obtaining an "enhanced" concealed carry license. It specifies that applicants must complete a qualifying handgun safety course meeting new standards: at least 8 hours of in-person instruction covering Idaho firearms law, safe handgun use, self-defense principles, and live-fire training (minimum 98 rounds). The course must be taught by a certified instructor, include Idaho law instruction delivered by an approved attorney or law enforcement officer, and provide a syllabus upon request. This directly affects individuals applying for enhanced concealed carry licenses in Idaho, requiring them to meet these updated training criteria.
H 16 amends Idaho's athletic commission law to exempt fundraising events held by 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) charitable organizations from state athletic commission oversight. Specifically, it adds a new exemption allowing these charities to host boxing or combat sports events solely for fundraising without needing commission approval for the event itself. The bill does not change existing requirements for participant medical exams or safety standards, which still apply under separate sections of the law. This change directly affects charitable groups seeking to use combat sports events as fundraising tools within Idaho.
