Idaho Bills

This bill amends Idaho law to define and criminalize abortion trafficking, which occurs when an adult recruits, harbors, or transports a pregnant minor within the state to conceal an abortion from the minor's parents or guardian. The law applies to anyone who procures or obtains an abortion for the minor, though it explicitly excludes sharing health plan information from this definition. Prosecutors can be bypassed by the attorney general if local officials refuse to enforce the law, and the crime carries a prison sentence of two to five years. Parents or guardians consenting to the trafficking can use this as a legal defense, but the location of the abortion provider outside Idaho does not provide a defense. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

H 594 revises Idaho's property tax rules to ensure late fees and interest on overdue payments are distributed proportionally to local taxing districts (like cities, schools, and road districts). It requires county tax collectors to remit all late charges and interest to county auditors, who must then allocate these funds in the same ratio as each district's share of regular property tax revenue. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all property tax collections handled by county tax collectors and auditors.

H 587 amends Idaho law to allow the rangeland improvement account to be used automatically each year without needing separate annual budget approvals. This affects the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (which manages the account) and ranchers who benefit from rangeland improvements funded through the account. The bill requires the department to provide annual reports to specific legislative committees detailing all funding sources and uses for the account. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, streamlining funding for ongoing rangeland conservation projects.

This bill amends Idaho Code §11-605 to clarify that debtors may exempt one motor vehicle (regardless of its operability, insurability, or registration status) up to a value of $10,000 in civil judgment proceedings. It directly affects Idaho residents facing debt collection who own vehicles valued at or below $10,000. The key change refines the existing exemption language to explicitly state that the $10,000 value limit applies irrespective of the vehicle's condition or registration status. The amendment maintains the same $10,000 exemption threshold but removes ambiguity about vehicle requirements. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

This bill amends Idaho state law to clarify definitions and update procedures related to county solid waste disposal sites and management. It empowers county commissioners to establish, operate, and maintain their own waste disposal systems using various funding sources, including bonds and current revenues, while allowing counties to choose whether to contract out these services. The legislation also permits counties to implement flow control measures that require waste haulers to use designated local facilities, but only after completing a detailed independent study that analyzes financial impacts, cost-benefit factors, liability risks, and regulatory compliance. Additionally, the bill defines key terms such as "major solid waste generator" and "flow control" to provide clearer legal standards for waste management decisions.

This bill establishes a new state property tax in Idaho targeting non-primary residential properties, such as vacation homes and short-term rentals, to help fund emergency services and law enforcement. The tax applies a 2.5 mill levy on taxable property value but exempts primary homesteads, commercial properties, agricultural land, and long-term residential leases of at least seven months. Revenue collected from the tax is distributed to counties and local jurisdictions, with 50% specifically designated for law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services. The legislation also repeals an existing restriction that prevented a state property tax when a sales tax is in force, allowing this new levy to operate alongside sales taxes.

This bill establishes new protections for children in Idaho by requiring youth service organizations to conduct background checks on all adult workers and volunteers who have regular contact with minors. The law defines youth service organizations as groups where adults supervise children and mandates that workers complete training on identifying and reporting sexual abuse at least every two years. Organizations that fail to properly screen out registered sex offenders or neglect their child abuse prevention policies could face legal liability in lawsuits involving child abuse cases. The bill also allows insurance companies to require proof of compliance with these safety standards before providing coverage, while clarifying that existing legal rights remain unchanged.

This bill requires insurance companies in Idaho to notify both policy owners and designated family members when a life insurance policy is about to lapse due to nonpayment. It mandates that insurers send written notice at least 60 days before a policy terminates, with an option for certified mail delivery for policies over $100,000 upon request. The law also establishes annual reminders for policyholders to update their designated contacts and allows for changes to be made more frequently than once per year. These protections apply to individual life insurance policies issued on or after January 1, 2027, but exclude policies with monthly or more frequent premium payments.

This bill updates Idaho's laws to regulate the sale of nicotine products, including electronic smoking devices and alternative nicotine products like vapes. It requires businesses to obtain permits to sell these items, restricts sales to minors, and mandates vendor-assisted sales where a person assists the customer during the transaction. The legislation also introduces a tax on these products and establishes specific rules for manufacturers, including bond requirements for foreign entities. Additionally, the bill clarifies definitions and penalties for violations, while allowing local governments to enact their own ordinances on the matter.

This bill appropriates state funding to Idaho's 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 budget allocations for various divisions including youth safety, early learning, family partnerships, and benefit payments, while also setting limits on the number of authorized full-time positions. The legislation includes requirements for program integrity, monthly Medicaid tracking reports, and specific fund transfers to support initiatives such as rural physician incentives and smoking cessation programs.

This bill (S 1265) is a procedural cleanup of Idaho’s Petroleum Clean Water Trust Fund law. It removes outdated or unnecessary provisions from several sections of Idaho Code, including outdated rules about the fund’s board of trustees (Section 41-4904), distribution of fees (Section 41-4910), and obsolete application processes (repealing Section 41-4910A and amending Sections 41-4925 and 41-4930). The changes streamline administrative language but do not alter the fund’s core purpose or funding mechanisms. This is a technical revision to modernize the law, not a policy change affecting citizens or new financial obligations.

SCR 121 is a resolution requesting Idaho's Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop draft legislation modernizing the state's public school funding formula. It directs the Superintendent to create new funding legislation based on specific principles, including addressing student needs (like special education), supporting rural and virtual schools, ensuring funding stability, and aligning with Idaho's constitutional duty to fund public schools. The resolution requires the draft to include financial breakdowns for all school districts and charter schools, with a report due before the next legislative session. This bill does not change current funding but formally asks for a revised formula to replace the 1994 system.