This bill establishes new requirements for parenting coordinators appointed by Idaho courts in child custody cases. It mandates that these professionals undergo comprehensive criminal background checks before appointment and maintain records of all checks with the state supreme court. The legislation clarifies that parenting coordinators serve only in an advisory capacity, with final custody decisions remaining the court's responsibility, and requires their reports to be disclosed to both parents with the coordinator available for cross-examination. Additionally, the bill sets a minimum reporting schedule requiring status updates at least every six months and allows courts to allocate fees between the parties involved.
This bill amends Idaho law to allow plaintiffs to seek punitive damages in libel and slander cases involving inherently defamatory statements, known as libel per se and slander per se. Under current rules, victims of defamation must demand a correction from the publisher or broadcaster within 20 days to recover more than actual damages, but this bill creates an exception for serious cases where the false statement was made with malicious intent or reckless disregard for the truth. The change directly affects individuals who have been defamed through newspapers, radio, or television broadcasts by removing the requirement to request a retraction before pursuing punitive damages in these specific situations. The bill defines libel per se and slander per se as knowingly false statements made with malicious intent or reckless disregard for the truth, regardless of context.
This bill creates a new legal requirement in Idaho for courts to restore lost parenting time when a parent's custody is restricted due to unsubstantiated abuse allegations. The law mandates that courts order the return of missed time, including holidays and school breaks, without unnecessary delay. If a parent intentionally blocks court-ordered visitation, the court must award compensatory time equal to what was denied, unless there is clear evidence that immediate restoration would harm the child. The bill also establishes written restoration plans to ensure the process minimizes disruption to the child while returning parents to their lawful custody rights.
This bill proposes that starting July 1, 2027, the Director of the Department of Insurance will also serve as the Director of the Department of Finance in Idaho. The legislation allows the combined director to merge administrative functions, financial support, and information technology services between the two departments to improve efficiency. The bill updates state codes to establish this dual leadership role and grants the director authority to combine divisions and employees from both departments. This change would mean one person oversees both financial management and insurance regulation, potentially streamlining operations and reducing administrative costs.
This bill, H 864, would classify certain substances containing mitragynine as Schedule I controlled substances under Idaho law, meaning they would be treated as illegal drugs with no accepted medical use. The measure directly affects individuals who possess, distribute, or use these specific mitragynine-related compounds by subjecting them to the same legal restrictions as other Schedule I substances. Key provisions amend the existing Idaho Code to explicitly list mitragynine-containing substances alongside other controlled substances, requiring law enforcement and healthcare providers to follow strict regulations regarding these materials. The bill declares an emergency and sets an effective date for the changes, ensuring immediate legal enforcement once passed.
This bill updates rules for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to restrict informal, off-the-record communications between commissioners or staff and regulated entities, requiring such discussions to be written and part of the official record unless they concern scheduling or administrative matters. It also strengthens existing gift restrictions by clarifying that public servants cannot accept money or benefits from people they regulate, investigate, or make decisions about, with limited exceptions for small, trivial gifts or personal relationships unrelated to official duties. The legislation applies penalties of up to $250 for individuals and $2,500 for organizations for violations and allows the attorney general to pursue enforcement actions. These changes directly affect utility companies, their representatives, and commission staff by creating clearer boundaries for interactions and reducing potential conflicts of interest.
Idaho's H 638 establishes the state's first presidential primary election, replacing the previous caucus system. The bill sets the presidential primary date as the first Tuesday in March during presidential election years (amending Section 34-106) and creates new rules for candidate eligibility, ballot preparation, voting procedures, and delegate selection (through new sections 34-731 to 34-738). It also adjusts deadlines for voters to change party affiliation before the primary (amending Section 34-411A). This directly affects Idaho voters who will now select presidential candidates in a primary election rather than at caucuses.
This bill prohibits the governor's executive budget document from including logos, mottos, or slogans of the executive branch or governor, except for Idaho's state seal and the governor's official logo. It amends Idaho Code to clarify that the budget must strictly follow the four-part structure outlined in Section 67-3507, removing any branding elements beyond the required state seal and governor's logo. The change applies to all future executive budget documents, effective July 1, 2026. This is a procedural adjustment to budget formatting with no direct impact on state funding or policy.
This Idaho bill (H 702) removes outdated legal provisions related to commercial transactions involving securities. It specifically deletes sections addressing choice of law for security validity, priority among security interests, and rules for entitlement holders under Idaho Code sections 28-8-110, 28-8-503, 28-8-511, and 28-9-305. The bill makes technical corrections to other sections but does not create new requirements or alter how commercial transactions operate. It directly affects businesses and financial institutions operating under Idaho’s securities laws by simplifying existing statutes. The changes are procedural, eliminating redundant language without changing substantive legal rights.
This bill amends Idaho law to allow local governments to use development impact fees - paid by developers for new construction - to fund the replacement of fire apparatus (like fire trucks) as part of public safety facilities. It updates the definition of "capital improvements" in Idaho Code to explicitly include fire apparatus replacement under public safety facilities. This change directly affects local fire departments and governments that collect these fees, enabling them to redirect existing fee revenue toward replacing aging equipment. The policy change does not alter who pays the fees or the fee amounts, only the allowable uses of the collected funds.
This bill requires public schools in Idaho to provide daily outdoor recess for students in kindergarten through grade 5, with each session lasting at least 20 minutes when weather and scheduling allow. The legislation also encourages schools to offer unstructured activity breaks for middle school students in grades 6 through 8. If outdoor recess is not possible due to weather, schools must provide indoor alternatives such as in a gymnasium. The bill prohibits withholding recess as punishment unless the disciplinary issue occurred during the recess period itself.
This bill establishes rules for hospitals in Idaho to make temporary Medicaid eligibility decisions for patients who may qualify but haven't completed full applications. It requires hospitals to notify the state within five days of making these determinations and to help patients finish their applications before the temporary coverage ends. The bill creates a performance tracking system where hospitals face mandatory training after two violations and lose their ability to make these determinations after three violations within a year. Hospitals can appeal violation findings, and the state must provide clear written notices explaining any standards they failed to meet.
