This bill amends Idaho law to establish clearer rules for supervised visitation in child custody cases between parents. It requires courts to explain their reasons for ordering supervised visits, mandates regular reviews within 49 days, and sets a 90-day maximum interval for transitioning to unsupervised parenting time unless there is good cause. The legislation prioritizes unpaid providers chosen by the parents, requires background checks for paid providers including criminal and abuse registry screenings, and clarifies that supervised visitation cannot be used as punishment or a substitute for proving unfitness.
This bill restructures the Idaho Digital Learning Academy by updating its legal framework and establishing a new nine-member board of directors to oversee operations. The board will include school superintendents, a school principal, two citizen members, the state superintendent, and two legislators, with members serving staggered three-year terms. The academy will function as a public school-choice option offering courses like credit recovery and dual credit, particularly for students in small or rural districts, while remaining separate from existing state government departments. The legislation also clarifies funding provisions and defines the academy's role as a resource to supplement, not replace, local school district programs.
This bill establishes a five-year pause on new regulations and fee increases for Idaho's Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. During this period, the division and its associated boards cannot create additional administrative rules or raise licensing fees, though they may still repeal existing regulations to reduce regulatory burdens. The legislation also requires the division to transfer all administrative rules that are shorter than eight pages into state statutes by December 31, 2026. These changes directly impact the division's ability to manage occupational licensing and affect the businesses and professionals regulated under its authority.
This bill updates Idaho's child custody laws to prioritize parental rights while ensuring decisions serve the child's best interests. It establishes a presumption that equal custody allocation is in a child's best interest when both parents are fit, and requires courts to consider factors like the child's wishes, family stability, and domestic violence history. The legislation also clarifies definitions for parents with disabilities, ensuring courts evaluate how adaptive equipment and supportive services enable parenting without creating new government obligations. Additionally, it protects military service members from having custody reduced due to active duty and mandates mediation before contested custody trials.
This bill requires Idaho state agencies to use artificial intelligence systems to review their existing rules and guidance documents annually as part of their regular regulatory review process. The AI tools must analyze regulations for outdated mandates, conflicts with other laws, comparisons to neighboring states, opportunities for simplification, compliance costs, and economic impacts, then provide recommendations for modifications. Human experts must review and approve all AI-generated analysis before any changes are made, ensuring that regulations are only altered after verifying accuracy and alignment with legislative intent. Agencies must complete an initial comprehensive review within six months of the bill's effective date and publish annual reports detailing the review process, accepted recommendations, and estimated burden reductions.
This bill is a joint memorial from the Idaho Legislature requesting that the U.S. Congress pass laws to regulate solar geoengineering activities. It specifically asks for federal legislation to prohibit the intentional release of substances into the atmosphere for solar geoengineering without explicit approval from the State of Idaho. The memorial urges banning unmarked aircraft and drones used for such activities over Idaho airspace and recommends making unauthorized actions a felony offense with criminal penalties. The document also calls for cooperation between federal law enforcement and Idaho state agencies to enforce these regulations and demands full disclosure and public consent for any solar geoengineering programs conducted over Idaho.
This bill clarifies Idaho's legal definition of electric-assisted bicycles by specifying which vehicles are excluded from that category. It directly affects vehicle owners, riders, and law enforcement by distinguishing between standard e-bikes and motorized vehicles that require licensing, registration, and insurance. The key provision excludes any two-wheeled electric vehicle with a motor of 750 watts or more, one that exceeds 30 mph, or one without operable pedals from being classified as an electric-assisted bicycle. Additionally, the bill formally defines electric personal assistive mobility devices as self-balancing two-wheeled devices limited to 15 mph. These changes aim to ensure consistent enforcement of traffic and vehicle laws across different types of electric-powered transportation.
This bill prohibits foreign persons from purchasing or acquiring controlling interests in single-family homes in Idaho starting July 1, 2026, and also restricts foreign governments and state-controlled enterprises from owning certain types of land like agricultural and forest land. It defines "foreign persons" to include non-U.S. citizens, foreign corporations, foreign governments, and various business entities acting on their behalf, while exempting U.S. citizens and legal residents. If a foreign person acquires a restricted property after the effective date, they must sell it within 180 days, and the attorney general can initiate legal action to force a sale through judicial foreclosure if they do not comply. The bill also establishes a whistleblower program that allows individuals to report violations and receive a 30% reward from the proceeds of any forced property sales, while protecting those who do not investigate foreign ownership status from liability.
This bill requires funeral homes and crematories in Idaho to confirm a deceased person's identity with high confidence before cremation can proceed. It mandates that a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or coroner must verify the decedent's identity using methods like fingerprinting, DNA analysis, official photo ID, or visual confirmation by a legal next of kin. The law also protects funeral establishments from liability if they follow these identification procedures and rely on properly signed authorization forms. These requirements apply to all cremations performed in Idaho starting July 1, 2026.
This Idaho bill (H 680) requires all interviews with alleged child abuse victims - conducted by law enforcement, child welfare agencies, or child advocacy centers - to be recorded with sound and video. It applies to safety assessments, investigative interviews, and risk assessments. The law states that not having such recordings won't prevent evidence from being used in court. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill (S 1314) updates Idaho's administrative structure for health and welfare services by removing outdated references to the "Board of Health and Welfare" and replacing them with the "Department of Health and Welfare" in state law. It repeals obsolete sections about regional behavioral health boards and updates rules governing the department's internal operations, including how officials are appointed and referenced in legal documents. The changes streamline the department's governance without altering public health services or creating new citizen-facing policies. This is primarily an organizational update to modernize the state's health and welfare administrative framework.
Idaho's S 1340 amends traffic laws to require drivers on multilane highways to use the right-hand lane unless passing, preparing for a left turn, or overtaking slower vehicles. It specifically prohibits driving in the left lane when not passing, and mandates that vehicles moving slower than normal traffic must stay in the right lane to avoid impeding faster vehicles. Violations - including driving slowly in the left lane - carry a $75 fine under amended sections 49-630 and 49-655 of the Idaho Code. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and includes signage requirements to inform drivers.
