H 778 revises Idaho's dual enrollment rules to allow students from nonpublic schools (including private and home schools) and public charter schools to participate in public school nonacademic activities, such as sports and clubs. It requires these students to meet academic eligibility standards - like achieving minimum scores on state tests or approved assessments - to join such activities, with their primary school (where they take most courses) responsible for overseeing these standards. The bill also clarifies that dually enrolled students in public charter schools do not count toward enrollment limits and permits joint enrollment in alternative programs or postsecondary institutions, with credits counting toward graduation. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This Idaho bill (H 641) adds new rules for earned sick leave use in employment contracts. It prevents employers from disciplining workers for using sick leave as permitted under their written policy, and requires verification of need (e.g., work ability) without demanding medical diagnoses or health details. The bill clarifies that employers are not required to offer sick leave, and it does not mandate payment for unused sick leave upon separation. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all Idaho employers offering sick leave benefits.
Idaho bill H 756 establishes rules for new large electricity consumers (defined as those requiring 20+ megawatts of power within five years). It requires public utilities to obtain commission approval before serving these customers, mandating a "no-harm test" to ensure existing ratepayers won’t face higher bills. The law also requires large consumers to provide financial security (like cash deposits or letters of credit) to cover potential stranded costs if they reduce their power needs. These provisions apply to new connections or significant expansions of existing service entrances, with annual reviews to verify ongoing rate protection.
H 759 revises Idaho's Medicaid provider payment rules to reduce costs and increase transparency. It sets payment rates at 90% of Medicare rates for most services (up to 100% for primary care), requires annual cost surveys for home-based services with 15% audits, and mandates public reporting of survey results by December 31 each year. The bill directly affects residential habilitation providers, hospitals, and other Medicaid service providers by requiring them to allocate funds to direct care wages and meet spending thresholds. Key mechanisms include new reimbursement rates for hospitals (e.g., 101% for in-state critical access hospitals), a three-year budget reduction target for hospital payments, and nullifying specific administrative rules after 2026.
Idaho's H 755 requires the annual review of all state sales tax exemptions by the Legislative Services Office. The review analyzes factors like annual revenue impact, public purpose, affected taxpayers, and benefits/detriment of repeal, with a report due to tax committees by February 1 each year. All sales tax exemptions enacted on or after January 1, 2026, will automatically expire 10 years after their effective date (or July 1, 2027, whichever is later), unless renewed by the legislature. Existing exemptions expire 10 years after enactment or July 1, 2031, unless extended. This bill directly affects businesses and individuals benefiting from current exemptions by subjecting them to mandatory review and automatic expiration.
H 757 amends Idaho's child welfare laws to clarify definitions related to medical neglect for children and vulnerable adults. It updates terms like "abused," "aggravated circumstances," and "disability" in existing statutes (Sections 16-1602 and 39-5302, Idaho Code) to improve consistency in legal standards. The bill does not create new programs or requirements but refines how medical neglect is legally defined for court and agency use. It directly affects child welfare cases, courts, and agencies handling neglect investigations. The bill is procedural, focusing on terminology rather than policy changes.
H 526 allows small cottage food operations in Idaho to sell time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods directly to consumers, expanding their current sales scope. The bill permits these operations to sell TCS foods (like cooked meats or dairy) if their annual gross sales stay under $5,000, which was previously restricted. This directly affects home-based food businesses that want to offer a wider range of products without full commercial kitchen licensing. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.
Idaho bill H 514 changes licensing requirements for barber, cosmetology, and related beauty professionals. It allows students to take their final licensing exams after completing 80% of the required education hours (instead of 100%), directly affecting those training in approved schools. The bill amends Section 54-5810 of Idaho Code to establish this new threshold for exam eligibility. This change aims to streamline the path to licensure while maintaining safety standards, effective July 1, 2026.
This bill requires Idaho school districts and public charter schools to annually share clear information about harassment, intimidation, or bullying (as defined by Idaho law) with all staff, parents, and students, including that staff must intervene. It mandates ongoing professional development for school staff to prevent and address these issues, and requires school policies to include graduated consequences for offenders and procedures for mandatory reporting of incidents leading to student suspensions. Schools must also annually report bullying incidents to the state education department using a standardized format. These changes apply to all Idaho public schools and aim to standardize prevention, response, and reporting practices.
Idaho's H 753 establishes a framework for Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs to provide intensive, community-based mental health support. It directly affects individuals with serious mental illness who have experienced frequent hospitalizations, crisis services, or failed to benefit from standard outpatient care. The bill defines ACT as 24/7 multidisciplinary teams delivering comprehensive services in community settings, requiring specific staff composition (including clinicians, peer specialists, and substance use counselors). It mandates the Department of Health and Welfare to seek federal Medicaid approval by March 2026 to implement these programs, aiming to reduce hospitalizations and support community living. The law sets eligibility criteria based on medical need, functional impairment, and documented service failures.
This Idaho bill (S 1225) changes how public universities search for new presidents and who can see candidate information. It requires state boards to form search committees with faculty, alumni, and community members, hold private candidate reviews, and publicly share the sole finalist’s name at least 10 days before the final hiring vote in an open meeting. Previously, up to five finalists’ names were required to be public, but this bill now mandates disclosure only for the final candidate. These rules directly affect all Idaho state universities and aim to increase transparency in leadership appointments.
This Idaho bill requires virtual currency kiosk operators to obtain a money transmitter license and submit detailed quarterly and annual reports to the Idaho Department of Finance. The reports must include transaction volumes, refund data, customer complaints, and contact details for compliance officers, with specific disclosures to prevent fraud and money laundering. Operators must also provide blockchain transaction records and assist law enforcement investigations upon request. The law directly affects kiosk operators in Idaho and the state's regulatory agency.
