Idaho Bills

This concurrent resolution urges Idaho voters to reject the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act if it appears on the November 2026 ballot. The bill does not change any laws or create new programs; instead, it serves as a formal statement from the legislature expressing opposition to medical marijuana legalization. The resolution cites concerns about potential health risks, environmental damage, increased crime, and significant state budget costs associated with implementing a medical cannabis program. It also notes that the proposed act would allow home delivery of marijuana and does not require a doctor's prescription, which the legislature argues could lead to widespread recreational use.

This bill amends Idaho law to revise the Parental Choice Tax Credit, which provides financial assistance to parents for private school and related educational expenses. It establishes eligibility for Idaho residents with children aged 5 to 18, or children with disabilities up to age 21, to claim a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 per eligible student for qualified expenses including tuition, tutoring, assessments, and transportation. The bill creates a priority application system that favors lower-income families and allows eligible parents to request an advance payment of the credit before filing their tax return. It also repeals the previous advance payment fund and sets specific application deadlines and documentation requirements for claiming the credit.

This Idaho bill restricts how data centers can use water for cooling purposes, specifically targeting facilities that begin construction on or after July 1, 2026. Under the new rules, data centers may only use water for cooling if it comes from a municipal water system, water district, or water and sewer district. The legislation aims to protect local water supplies and watersheds by preventing data centers from using water that would otherwise be available for other community needs. The law requires the state Department of Water Resources to consider these water conservation goals when reviewing water rights applications for data centers.

This bill requires state agencies to follow specific procedures when filing insurance claims for property damage exceeding $100,000, including gathering evidence like law enforcement reports and independent damage assessments before accepting settlement offers. It also mandates that proposed settlement agreements be reported to the state controller at least 14 days before acceptance and requires written confirmation from affected agency leaders that payouts represent the maximum available recovery. Additionally, the bill expands confidentiality protections for certain insurance-related reports and updates reporting requirements for state agency agreements to ensure better transparency and oversight.

This bill appropriates approximately $3.1 billion in state and federal funds to Idaho's Public Schools Educational Support Program for fiscal year 2027, covering teacher salaries, student support services, facilities, and special education programs. It directs specific uses for the money, including professional development for educators, additional compensation for instructional staff, technology infrastructure purchases, and targeted funding for English language learners and students with disabilities. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for how districts allocate funds and clarifies the original funding sources for these expenditures.

This bill appropriates specific funding amounts to Idaho's Medicaid program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, affecting the Department of Health and Welfare's Division of Medicaid. It allocates money from various state and federal funds to support different Medicaid plans, including Basic, Enhanced, Coordinated, and Expansion plans, as well as administrative costs and hospital assessments. The legislation also reduces certain appropriations from the Hospital Assessment Fund and other sources for these same programs during the covered periods. Once signed into law, the bill directs how these funds will be distributed and spent to cover Medicaid benefits and operational expenses for eligible Idaho residents.

This bill appropriates $30.7 million to the Department of Health and Welfare and $250,000 to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027 to fund assertive community treatment and peer support services. The funding comes from multiple sources, including the State-Directed Opioid Settlement Fund, the Idaho Millennium Income Fund, and federal cooperative welfare funds. The bill also allows the Department of Health and Welfare to transfer money freely between programs to support these services and permits up to $5.8 million of opioid settlement funds to be used for individuals with substance use or mental health issues who do not have opioid use disorder. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and the bill was signed into law by the Governor.

This bill adjusts funding for Idaho's Division of Student Support for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, allocating $11.9 million from specific funds while reducing overall appropriations by nearly $10 million. The legislation lowers per-student funding for fully virtual schools, cuts $7.5 million in transportation reimbursements, and requires schools offering online classes to report enrollment and attendance data. It also modifies how English learner funds are distributed, establishes new requirements for technology education programs, and mandates a report on special education spending.

This bill amends Idaho's open meetings law to allow the public to record government meetings, including capturing audio, video, or photographs. It applies to all public agency governing bodies except for specific executive sessions and meetings held in correctional facilities or by the pardons and parole commission. The legislation also clarifies that recording cannot be used as a reason to remove or exclude attendees, while still permitting agencies to take reasonable steps to maintain order during meetings. Additionally, the bill permits meetings to be conducted via telecommunications devices like video conferencing, as long as at least one member remains physically present and communications remain audible to the public.

This bill establishes a new regulatory framework in Idaho for large industrial or commercial electricity customers, requiring public utilities to obtain commission approval before serving new loads that would increase power demand by 50 megawatts or more. The law mandates that utilities conduct a "no harm test" to ensure these new customers can fully cover their share of infrastructure costs without raising rates for existing residential and business customers. Key provisions include a 270-day review period for service contracts, requirements for financial security to protect against stranded costs, and rules preventing customers from splitting loads to avoid the new requirements. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies only to service contracts entered into on or after that date.

This Idaho bill creates the Virtual Currency Kiosk Fraud Prevention Act to regulate businesses that operate physical machines for buying or selling cryptocurrency. It requires kiosk operators to obtain a money transmitter license, submit quarterly and annual reports to the state Department of Finance, and provide transaction receipts to customers. The law also mandates specific disclosures for new customers, establishes procedures for handling refunds, and creates requirements for sharing information with law enforcement to investigate fraud and money laundering. Additionally, the bill defines terms related to virtual currency transactions and includes protections for potentially vulnerable older adults who may be at risk of financial exploitation.

This bill updates Idaho's industrial hemp laws to allow the sale of hemp products intended for human ingestion or inhalation, such as edibles and vapes, while excluding certain hemp seed products. It requires the state agriculture department to create rules for hemp production and processing that align with federal guidelines and the 2018 Farm Bill, with stricter state rules requiring clear labeling of how they differ from federal standards. The law also establishes a process for penalties and appeals, ensuring individuals receive notice and a hearing before facing fines, and mandates that new rules follow a negotiated rulemaking process.