H 585 requires Idaho local governments and inspection divisions to complete electrical, plumbing, and HVAC inspections within 48 business hours. If they fail to do so, contractors or homeowners (permit holders) can hire a qualified third-party inspector and receive a full refund of fees paid. The bill also mandates a 10% refund if an inspector fails to provide written reasons for a failed inspection within three business days. This applies to all three systems covered under the bill and takes effect July 1, 2026.
H 678 requires anyone setting traps for gray wolves in Idaho to inspect each trap or snare every 72 hours and promptly remove any captured animal. This law directly affects licensed trappers and landowners using traps for wolf control. The bill allows inspections to be done either in person or via remote camera systems with an unobstructed view of the trap. It also permits the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to create implementing rules, with the law taking effect on July 1, 2026. The bill amends Idaho Code Section 36-1106 to establish these specific trap-checking requirements.
This bill creates a Medicaid exemption from prior approval requirements for healthcare providers who mentor medical students. Practitioners in family medicine, psychiatry, or OB/GYN qualify if they provide 360+ hours of preceptorship (with 60% in rural/underserved areas) to graduate students at Idaho institutions. Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare verifies hours and grants a 12-month exemption starting the next calendar year. The exemption is limited to 100 providers per specialty annually and may be revoked if claims fail risk-based quality reviews.
This bill allows Idaho county sheriffs to seek reimbursement from the Idaho Department of Correction for costs incurred when traveling out-of-state to recapture escaped prisoners, probationers, or parolees. Sheriffs can submit invoices detailing travel, mileage, personnel, overtime, or other reasonable recapture costs after successfully returning individuals to custody. The Department of Correction must pay these claims within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice and will appropriate annual funds for this purpose. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies directly to county sheriff's offices and the Department of Correction.
This bill repeals Chapter 60, Title 67 of the Idaho Code, which established the Idaho Women’s Commission. It eliminates the legal authority and structure of the commission, directly affecting its operations and funding. The repeal takes effect on July 1, 2026, as declared an emergency. This is a procedural change with no new provisions or policy impacts.
H 522 establishes a "drone no-fly zone" around Idaho's correctional facilities, creating a 400-foot restricted airspace above prison grounds. It prohibits drones from operating in this zone for any illegal or dangerous purpose (like spying or smuggling), making violations a misdemeanor punishable by fines of $2,000-$5,000 or up to one year in jail. Correctional facilities and law enforcement may use legal methods - such as jamming or physical capture - to disrupt drones operating "in a nefarious manner" within this zone. The law requires drone operators to know these restrictions, with ignorance not excused as a defense.
Idaho's H 561 revises rules for displaying flags on government property. It specifies which flags governmental entities (like state agencies, counties, and cities) may display - such as the U.S. flag, Idaho flag, military flags, tribal flags, and flags for special occasions - while removing prior restrictions on other flags. Government entities that violate these rules face a $2,000 daily civil penalty. The Attorney General enforces the law, requiring 10 days for correction before penalties apply, and can pursue legal action for ongoing violations.
This bill appropriates $72.5 million from Idaho's Permanent Building Fund to the Department of Administration's Division of Public Works for fiscal year 2027 to fund capital projects, maintenance, and repairs across state facilities. The funds are allocated for specific purposes including building maintenance, ADA compliance projects, and the design of a new readiness center in Bonneville County. The bill requires the Division of Public Works to report annually on project status and allows unused funds from completed projects or delayed projects to be reallocated for new priorities with approval from the Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council.
This bill provides funding for Idaho's Soil and Water Conservation Commission for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, directing money through both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water Resources. It reduces the Department of Agriculture's allocation for 2027 while increasing the Department of Water Resources' funding for the same period, with specific amounts designated for personnel, operations, capital outlays, and trustee and benefit payments. The legislation also sets aside $300,000 to distribute equally among the state's 50 soil and water conservation districts and provides an additional $12,900 for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Once signed into law, the bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, with one section becoming effective immediately upon signing.
This bill provides additional funding to Idaho's Department of Agriculture for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, directing money to specific programs like animal industries, plant industries, agricultural inspections, and market development. The legislation allocates approximately $830,000 for operating and capital expenses across various fee-based and grant-funded programs, while also transferring over $1.2 million from the state's General Fund to cover pest control costs for the Plant Industries Program. It includes provisions to reappropriate unused federal grant money for new nonrecurring expenses and sets effective dates for different sections of the funding. The bill was signed into law and establishes an emergency declaration to ensure immediate implementation of the pest control funding.
This bill changes how Idaho collects fees for special license plates by eliminating a payment for a copyrighted design and creating a new plate option. It removes the fee previously paid to the Idaho Heritage Trust for using a specific red, white, and blue plate design, while simultaneously establishing a new America250 license plate that will generate funds for the same trust. The legislation also updates related registration fee structures and funding provisions to reflect these changes. Drivers can now purchase the America250 plate to support the Idaho Heritage Trust instead of paying the design fee for the previous plate option.
This bill updates Idaho Medicaid rules to increase transparency and oversight of payments to healthcare providers, particularly those serving people with disabilities. It establishes specific payment rates based on Medicare equivalents for most services, requires annual cost surveys with audits for residential habilitation providers, and mandates that providers spend allocated funds on direct care worker wages or face potential penalties. The legislation also introduces value-based payment options for certain providers, sets reimbursement percentages for different hospital types, and requires the state to reduce general fund spending on hospital payments by specified amounts. Additionally, it declares certain existing administrative rules null and void as of July 1, 2026, and requires all future provider rate changes to receive legislative approval through the budget process.
