Idaho Bills

This bill expands Medicaid eligibility in Idaho to include adults under 65 with incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level who currently lack other coverage. It requires the state to submit necessary plan amendments to the federal government within 90 days and ensures eligibility is not delayed while waiting for federal approval. The legislation includes provisions to maintain federal funding levels and requires a review of the program if federal support decreases, while also mandating community engagement requirements by December 2026 before enrollment becomes effective.

This bill updates Idaho's tobacco laws to clarify definitions and regulations for the sale of cigars and related products. It establishes new categories for businesses, such as mobile cigar retailers and designated cigar gardens for events, and expands the definition of tobacco products to include various accessories and electronic smoking devices. The legislation also revises rules for how permits are issued, how vendors assist customers during sales, and how opened packages and samples are handled. These changes apply to retailers, distributors, and event organizers who sell or distribute tobacco products in Idaho.

This bill amends Idaho law to clarify how school districts must use state funds designated for school facilities, requiring money to be spent on construction, renovation, maintenance, and security rather than athletic facilities. It establishes a nine-member Model School Facility Council to develop a standardized plan for school building design and construction that districts must follow when using these funds. The council will be appointed by state officials and must submit its plan to the legislature by July 2027, while districts must annually report on how they spend the allocated money.

This Idaho bill updates state laws to clarify definitions and strengthen protections against material harmful to minors. It directly affects individuals who distribute, sell, or provide explicit content to people under 18, as well as schools and public libraries. The legislation establishes specific definitions for terms like "minor," "nudity," and "sexual conduct," while prohibiting the promotion or distribution of sexually explicit materials to adolescents. Schools and libraries are explicitly barred from giving or making available such harmful material to minors. The law classifies violations as misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a fine of $1,000.

This bill updates Idaho's state procurement laws by clarifying definitions, revising the roles of purchasing officials, and modifying how contracts are awarded and managed. It directly affects state agencies, the Division of Purchasing, and vendors who sell goods or services to the state government. Key changes include new definitions for terms like "multiple-award contracts" and "environmental, social, and governance standards," a preference for recycled paper products, and stricter rules against frivolous challenges to procurement decisions. The bill also adjusts provisions related to vendor disqualification, ethics requirements, and the process for appealing contract awards.

This bill directs $5 million from the Idaho High Needs Student Fund to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Student Support for fiscal year 2027 to help fund student support services. It also transfers $1 million from the Idaho Career Ready Students Program Fund and $4 million from the Driver Training Account into the Idaho High Needs Student Fund to provide the necessary money for this appropriation. The legislation clarifies the funding source for these expenditures and sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration to ensure immediate implementation.

This bill strengthens Idaho's state preemption laws by explicitly prohibiting counties, cities, and other local governments from creating or enforcing their own regulations on the sale, ownership, possession, or storage of firearms and ammunition. It allows local governments to regulate firearm discharge only in specific circumstances, such as hunting, self-defense, or on designated shooting ranges, while maintaining state authority over all other firearm-related rules. The legislation includes a $10,000 penalty for local jurisdictions that knowingly violate these restrictions and establishes a legal process allowing individuals or organizations to sue for damages or injunctions if local laws conflict with state preemption. The bill also ensures that any part of the law found unconstitutional will not invalidate the remaining provisions.

This bill allocates $11.1 million to Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2027, primarily funding the Division of Indirect Support Services and the Domestic Violence Council. While it adds new funding from various state funds, it simultaneously reduces the overall budget for Indirect Support Services by over $10 million and cuts authorized staff positions by 58 full-time equivalents. The legislation also allows certain licensing funds to transfer money for personnel costs and benefits, and it takes effect on July 1, 2026.

This bill provides an additional $63,000 in state funding to the Idaho State Police for their Forensic Services Program during fiscal year 2027. The money is designated for operating expenses and will be drawn from the state's General Fund. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to ensure the funding takes effect immediately on July 1, 2026. This appropriation directly supports the forensic analysis work conducted by Idaho State Police personnel.

This bill appropriates state and federal funds to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the State Independent Living Council for fiscal year 2027, covering programs like Medicaid, child welfare, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment. It establishes specific funding amounts for various divisions including youth safety, early learning, family partnerships, and benefit payments, while also limiting the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions. The legislation includes requirements for program integrity, monthly Medicaid tracking reports, and cost-sharing for certain services, and directs how specific funds must be used for initiatives like smoking cessation, opioid response, and rural physician incentives.

This bill limits the legal liability of property owners who allow their land to be used as a polling place during elections. It removes the duty of care these owners owe to voters entering the property and clarifies that they do not assume responsibility for injuries or damages that occur there. The legislation also updates tax exemption rules to confirm that using tax-exempt property for voting purposes does not affect its tax status. Additionally, it streamlines the process for applying for property tax exemptions by setting specific deadlines and appeal procedures.

This bill allows Idaho school districts and public charter schools that meet specific performance and financial standards to gain more control over how they spend state education funds. To qualify, districts must rank in the top 20% for test scores or exceed state averages by significant margins, maintain strong graduation rates, and demonstrate three years of clean financial audits. Participating schools gain flexibility to allocate money for salaries, programs, and other expenses as they see fit, while being exempt from many state reporting requirements. The law includes safeguards that allow the state to revoke this flexibility if schools fail to meet academic benchmarks for two consecutive years or have serious financial audit issues. A report on the program's impact will be submitted to the legislature in 2029.