Idaho Bills

This bill establishes the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund to hold federal and state funds for rural health programs, and creates a committee to oversee the fund's allocation. The committee - composed of seven members (three from the Senate, three from the House, and one governor-appointed nonvoting member) - will set funding rules, review projects, require sustainability plans, and provide quarterly reports on fund usage. Funds must be used solely for federally approved rural health initiatives, with annual public financial reporting mandated. The committee will operate until all funds are expended.

HCR 27 is a concurrent resolution honoring Idaho civilians who served on Wake Island during World War II. It recognizes 225 Idaho residents employed by Morrison-Knudsen to build a U.S. naval base who later fought during the Japanese siege, including 32 who died (5 during the battle, 10 executed as POWs, and 17 who died in POW camps). The resolution formally acknowledges their sacrifice and service, noting they were later recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense for veterans' benefits. This is a commemorative measure with no policy or funding changes, solely expressing legislative recognition.

This bill amends Idaho state budget law to clarify how agencies can spend non-state funds and establish rules for interagency transactions. It requires prior approval from financial management officials before agencies can use outside money like insurance settlements or capital asset sales, with a $10 million annual limit on such spending. The legislation also creates a formal interagency billing system allowing state agencies to charge each other for goods and services, while maintaining existing rules for agencies selling to the public. These changes aim to improve financial accountability and standardize how state agencies handle internal and external revenue streams.

This Idaho bill establishes the Financial Accountability Stablecoin Transaction (FAST) Act to authorize the state government to use privately issued payment stablecoins for paying vendors and contractors. The legislation defines eligible stablecoins as those backed one-to-one by U.S. dollars or Treasury obligations, meeting specific criteria including at least $2 billion in annual transaction volume and being issued by U.S.-based entities with U.S. citizen founders and shareholders. The state treasurer will maintain an annual list of approved stablecoins and submit reports to the legislature on transaction volumes, cost savings, and fiscal benefits, while vendors may voluntarily choose to receive payments in these digital currencies.

This bill formally approves most temporary and pending rules from the Idaho Department of Insurance and the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses for the 2026 legislative session. The House Business Committee reviewed these rules and approved them with one exception: the Building Safety rules (IDAPA 24.39.30) were not approved. Additionally, the bill allows one specific pending rule regarding short-term health insurance coverage to become effective at the end of the legislative session. This procedural measure streamlines the legislative review process for administrative rules without changing the actual content of the regulations themselves.

This legislative resolution formally states that the House State Affairs Committee has reviewed and approved temporary and pending rules from several Idaho state agencies, including the Idaho State Police, Public Safety Communications Commission, Public Utilities Commission, Secretary of State, Department of Administration, and State Lottery. The resolution documents that these rules were examined under the Administrative Procedure Act during the 2026 legislative session and found acceptable, with one specific exception. The only rule not approved is IDAPA 15.06.01, which governs the Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission and was excluded from the approval. This procedural document serves to record the committee's findings and does not create new policy but confirms the status of existing administrative rules.

This bill formally records that the House Resources and Conservation Committee has reviewed and approved most temporary and pending rules from five Idaho state agencies, including the Department of Fish and Game, Department of Lands, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Department of Water Resources. While the committee approved the majority of these rules, it specifically rejected four rule sections related to fishing licensing, big game hunting regulations, park administration, and stream channel alteration. The resolution serves as an official finding that the legislative committee has completed its review process for these administrative rules during the 2026 legislative session.

This bill is a joint memorial from the Idaho Legislature requesting federal action to reduce the pelican population in the state. It asks the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow measures that would curtail the number of pelicans, which the bill claims are overpopulated and consuming more fish than human anglers. The resolution also urges the federal government to compensate Idaho for resource losses attributed to the birds. The document does not create new laws but instead formally requests federal agencies to address what the legislature views as an ecological imbalance.

This bill is a concurrent resolution that formally expresses the Idaho Legislature's support for wildlife crossings designed to help animals safely cross roads. It recognizes that big game species like deer, elk, and pronghorn need unbroken migration paths to survive and that highway collisions endanger both wildlife and people. The resolution highlights that infrastructure projects such as overpasses and underpasses have successfully reduced wildlife-vehicle accidents and encourages future investments in these crossings where local communities agree. Copies of the resolution are sent to state officials and federal representatives to promote continued efforts in wildlife conservation and public safety.

HJM 16 is a procedural resolution (not a bill) passed by the Idaho Legislature. It formally supports the Idaho Department of Insurance's efforts to protect Medicare beneficiaries and requests federal guidance from CMS on two specific issues: maintaining stable Medicare Advantage plan availability and clarifying how changes to insurance producer compensation affect consumer access. The resolution aims to prevent disruptions like sudden plan withdrawals or steering practices that limit beneficiary choice during enrollment periods. It directly affects Idaho Medicare beneficiaries and insurance companies operating in the state.

SJM 111 is a joint memorial (not a bill) passed by Idaho's legislature to express its position to the U.S. Congress. It urges Idaho's congressional delegation to oppose efforts to sell or transfer Idaho's public lands and to support legislation like the Public Lands in Public Hands Act. The memorial cites economic benefits (over $15 billion annually from grazing, timber, mining, and recreation), protection of hunting/fishing rights under Idaho's constitution, and concerns that selling lands would harm public access, local economies, and taxpayer burdens. It emphasizes that keeping public lands public aligns with Idaho's identity, heritage, and fiscal responsibility.

HJM 14 is a non-binding Idaho legislative resolution (not a bill) urging federal agencies to support increased water storage. It requests the U.S. Congress, Interior Department, and Bureau of Reclamation to fast-track feasibility studies for raising existing dams (Minidoka, Jackson Lake, American Falls), plan new reservoirs, and explore funding options to achieve Idaho's goal of 750,000 acre-feet of new storage by 2100. The resolution addresses water shortages caused by declining aquifers, reduced snowpack, and current infrastructure limitations, aiming to secure water for farms, communities, and ecosystems. It directly affects Idaho's water management strategy but has no direct impact on citizens or federal law.