Idaho Bills

This bill updates Idaho's rules for determining where civil lawsuits can be filed, directly affecting plaintiffs and defendants in state courts. It establishes that cases generally must be brought in the county where the legal dispute originated or where a defendant lives, with specific exceptions for insurance claims and out-of-state defendants. The law also allows courts to transfer cases to different locations when necessary, ensuring flexibility while maintaining clear venue standards. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026.

This bill updates Idaho's Transportation Support Program to clarify which costs school districts and transportation providers can claim for reimbursement when moving students to and from school. It defines allowable expenses such as vehicle maintenance, driver salaries, and contracted transportation services, while excluding costs for optional vehicle features not essential for safety or disability transport. The state will typically cover 50% of reimbursable costs, with higher reimbursement rates for training, fees, and bus maintenance, and includes a cap based on statewide average costs per mile or per student rider. The law also extends reimbursement eligibility to home-based public virtual schools for internet, equipment, and face-to-face visit costs, and establishes specific criteria for hardship bus runs that may qualify for higher reimbursement limits.

This bill creates a Medical Education Fund in Idaho to support state-funded medical students by requiring them to sign contracts committing to four years of full-time medical practice in the state after completing their education or residency. The fund will be financed through reimbursements from physicians who leave the state, a one percent tax on health insurance premiums starting in 2028, legislative appropriations, donations, and interest earned on fund investments. If a physician does not fulfill their service commitment, they must repay the state's financial support according to an amortized schedule over eight years, with provisions for suspending or waiving repayment in cases of hardship, disability, or military service. The bill applies to medical students enrolling in state-supported programs beginning fall 2023 and establishes an effective date of July 1, 2026.

This bill provides additional funding and staffing to Idaho's Office of the State Public Defender for fiscal year 2027. It allocates $505,100 total from state funds, including $250,900 for personnel costs and $250,500 for operating expenses, while also authorizing six additional full-time equivalent positions. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring the office has necessary resources to support public defense services during the fiscal year.

This bill updates Idaho state laws to allow manufactured homes to be placed on single-family residential lots, in addition to existing mobile home parks and subdivisions. It clarifies definitions for manufactured homes versus mobile homes and requires local governments to revise their comprehensive plans and zoning regulations to permit this siting option. The legislation also establishes specific placement standards for manufactured homes outside of parks, including minimum square footage, foundation requirements, roof design, and exterior appearance guidelines that must match surrounding homes. Local governments retain the ability to apply additional development standards that would apply to conventional single-family homes on the same lots, while the bill prohibits standards that unreasonably discourage needed housing.

This bill is a concurrent resolution that formally recognizes and supports Idaho's designation of 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. It highlights the importance of rangelands as natural ecosystems used for grazing and notes their economic, social, and cultural value to Idaho communities and pastoralists. The resolution expresses legislative support for sustainable livestock grazing, balanced public use, and collaboration among various land management groups to maintain healthy working landscapes. It does not create new laws or regulations but serves as a formal statement of the Legislature's position on this global initiative.

This bill appropriates $4.89 million to the Idaho State Police for fiscal year 2027, covering operating expenses and capital outlays for various programs and divisions. The funding is allocated across specific areas including brand inspection, investigations, patrol operations, law enforcement programs, support services, and the post academy, with money drawn from multiple state and federal funds. The legislation declares an emergency to allow the appropriation to take effect immediately on July 1, 2026, ensuring the Idaho State Police have the necessary resources for that fiscal year.

This bill appropriates $2,011,700 to Idaho's Department of Environmental Quality for fiscal year 2027 to fund water quality, waste management, and remediation programs. It also authorizes four additional full-time equivalent positions within the department and consolidates several fee accounts by transferring money between them to streamline financial management. The legislation reduces a specific federal fund allocation for water quality personnel costs while moving money from the hazardous waste emergency fund to the solid waste regulatory fund. Once signed into law, these changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.

This bill updates how money collected from Idaho's liquor sales is distributed among state agencies, counties, and cities. It adjusts the percentage of funds allocated to various programs over time, including substance abuse treatment, education, and law enforcement, while also modifying how remaining balances are shared between counties and cities. The legislation establishes specific formulas for distributing funds to local governments based on liquor sales volume and population, with some allocations decreasing gradually until 2023. Additionally, it corrects a reference to an existing code section and sets an emergency provision for the changes to take effect immediately.

This concurrent resolution expresses Idaho's legislative support for its partnership with Taiwan, highlighting shared democratic values and significant economic ties. The bill formally acknowledges Taiwan as a major trading partner for both the United States and Idaho, noting that bilateral trade reached $158.6 billion in 2024 and that Taiwan remains Idaho's second-largest export destination. It calls for continued support of Taiwan's participation in international organizations and reiterates Idaho's backing of a U.S.-Taiwan bilateral trade agreement and tax avoidance dialogue. The resolution also recognizes existing state-level agreements, including sister-state status since 1984 and a recent memorandum of understanding celebrating 40 years of friendship.

This bill provides additional funding to Idaho's Department of Juvenile Corrections for fiscal year 2027, covering personnel costs, operating expenses, and capital outlays from various state funds. It authorizes the department to hire six additional full-time equivalent positions and adjusts specific appropriation amounts, including a reduction of $327,000 for trustee and benefit payments from one fund. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and was signed into law by the Governor.

This bill amends Idaho law to clarify when wastewater corporations are classified as public utilities subject to state regulation. It defines key terms like wastewater system, service connection, and wastewater corporation, and establishes that corporations serving fewer than 100 active connections or standby capacity reservations are exempt from public utility regulation. The bill also authorizes the public utilities commission to charge reasonable oversight fees to regulated wastewater corporations and declares the law effective July 1, 2026.