Idaho Bills

HCR 29 is a symbolic resolution passed by the Idaho Legislature recognizing the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations designated by U.S. authorities. It directs Idaho lawmakers to consider this status when drafting future legislation, including matters related to land purchases within the state. The resolution cites U.S. government designations of these groups and references their alleged connections to terrorism, but does not create new legal restrictions or penalties. As a concurrent resolution, it has no binding legal effect and serves only to express the Legislature's position.

Idaho's S 1247, the Idaho E-Verify Act, requires specific employers to use the federal E-Verify program to confirm new hires' work authorization starting January 1, 2027. Covered employers include public agencies and private businesses with over 150 employees that hold public contracts worth $100,000+ paid with public funds. Employers must verify eligibility within three days of a new hire’s first paid workday and face enforcement actions - including civil lawsuits by the Idaho Department of Labor - for knowingly hiring workers without verified authorization. The law defers final determination of work authorization to federal authorities, as defined under federal law.

This bill creates two main requirements for Idaho: it mandates annual audits of refugee resettlement services by state-registered organizations, requiring detailed reports on refugee demographics, housing, and health statistics, while also prohibiting these organizations from assisting illegal aliens. Additionally, it requires all law enforcement agencies to verify and record the immigration status and nationality of every arrested individual, with biannual reports filed to the state controller containing crime statistics and transfer information to federal authorities. The bill applies to entities providing refugee services and all state and local law enforcement agencies, with enforcement mechanisms including potential withholding of state funding for noncompliance.

This bill classifies Norway rats, roof rats, and any wild, uncontrolled rats as invasive species in Idaho, which directly affects local governments and property owners. The law empowers counties, cities, and municipalities to take reasonable steps to control and remove these rats from public property and from private property after obtaining written permission from the owner. By designating these rats as invasive species, the bill activates existing state laws that allow for coordinated management and removal efforts, with an emergency clause ensuring immediate implementation upon passage.

This bill (H 670) creates a new process for fire protection and ambulance service districts to withdraw from urban renewal revenue-sharing plans. It allows these districts to opt out if the urban renewal plan has no outstanding debts (bonds or obligations) funded by their allocated revenue. To withdraw, districts must request a revenue accounting by May 1 and adopt a withdrawal resolution by June 1, submitting it to the urban renewal agency. The bill amends Idaho law to formalize this withdrawal procedure, affecting districts that previously could not easily exit such financing arrangements.

SJM 114 is a joint memorial from Idaho's legislature urging Congress to pass federal legislation creating a consistent national framework for college athletics. It specifically requests a single national standard for name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation, student-athlete employment rules, and protections for women's and Olympic sports to prevent program cuts. The resolution highlights Idaho's economic reliance on college athletics - citing Boise State University's $350 million annual economic impact - and argues that current regulatory uncertainty threatens public universities and state investments. This procedural resolution does not create law but calls for federal action to restore stability in college sports governance.

H 666 requires new Idaho residents to apply for an Idaho driver's license, register vehicles, and obtain a vehicle title within 30 days of establishing residency. This applies to all individuals who move to Idaho and establish domicile, including those with out-of-state licenses or registrations. The bill amends Idaho Code sections 49-301 (driver's license), 49-401A (vehicle registration), and 49-502 (vehicle title) to set this 30-day deadline. Failure to comply would be considered an infraction under the law.

This Senate resolution formally confirms that the Senate Health and Welfare Committee has reviewed and approved temporary and pending rules from several state agencies, including the Commission on Aging, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Department of Health and Welfare, and Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. The resolution applies to rules submitted for review during the 2026 legislative session and establishes that these rules have passed committee review unless specifically excluded. Four specific rule sets were not approved and will expire when the legislative session ends, including regulations for daycare licensing, child care programs, drinking water professionals, and occupational therapy licensure. This procedural document does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official record of the committee's review actions for the upcoming session.

This Senate resolution confirms that the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee has reviewed and approved all temporary and pending rules from the Idaho Department of Insurance, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, and Department of Commerce for the 2026 legislative session. The only rule not approved is IDAPA 24.39.50 regarding Public Works Contractors License Board rules, which the committee did not hear and therefore did not approve. Additionally, the resolution declares that two specific pending rules will become effective when the legislative session ends, including health insurance coverage rules and public works contractor licensing rules. This procedural document formalizes the committee's oversight role under Idaho state law without creating new substantive policy changes.

This Senate resolution formally approves temporary and pending rules for the Idaho State Police, Division of Veterans Services, Sexual Offender Management Board, and Office of Administrative Hearings after committee review. The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee examined these rules during the 2026 legislative session and approved them with one exception: a specific Sexual Offender Management Board rule that was not heard by the committee. The resolution also designates one pending Sexual Offender Management Board rule to take effect when the legislative session ends. This procedural measure allows the approved rules to proceed without further legislative action while ensuring the exception is noted for future consideration.

This bill formally approves temporary and pending rules from six Idaho state agencies, including the Department of Fish and Game, Department of Lands, and Department of Environmental Quality. The Senate Resources and Environment Committee reviewed these rules and approved most of them, while specifically excluding two sections related to park administration and groundwater quality regulations. Additionally, the bill allows one pending rule concerning public drinking water systems to take effect at the end of the current legislative session. This action follows state law requiring legislative committees to review administrative rules before they become permanent.

This bill amends Idaho law to update the powers and duties of the Office of Information Technology Services, giving it greater authority to control and coordinate IT equipment purchases across state government departments. The legislation requires the office to conduct technical and financial analyses before approving IT acquisitions, allows for third-party broker assistance under specific ethical guidelines, and exempts smaller purchases under $15,000 from certain procurement rules. Key provisions include mandatory cybersecurity measures like multi-factor authentication for all state systems, requirements for criminal background checks on IT staff in specific roles, and directives to implement cybersecurity training and best practices across all state agencies. The bill also establishes the office's role in overseeing cybersecurity policies, managing federal IT funds, and coordinating public outreach efforts to protect personal information from cyber threats.