This bill establishes the Idaho Education Whistleblower Protection Act to safeguard employees and applicants who report misconduct related to student safety. It defines protected activities as reporting sexual misconduct or safety violations, cooperating with investigations, or refusing to conceal such issues. The law prohibits educational entities from retaliating against whistleblowers through actions like termination, demotion, or harassment, and creates a legal presumption that adverse employment actions within six weeks of reporting constitute retaliation. Whistleblowers who face retaliation can file civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages and attorney fees, with protections applying to activities on or after July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act to enhance background checks and reporting requirements for school employees. It requires educational institutions to request disclosure statements from job applicants covering the past ten years, specifically asking about pending investigations, resignations during investigations, and disciplinary actions. The law also mandates that schools cannot replace required law enforcement reports about child abuse or neglect with their own internal reviews. Additionally, the bill provides immunity from civil liability for those who make good faith disclosures and requires that any employment changes during misconduct investigations be reported to the state's professional standards commission.
This bill updates Idaho's tax exemptions for data center equipment and property to encourage new data center development in the state. It allows qualifying businesses that invest at least $250 million in data center facilities and create at least 30 new full-time jobs to receive a 20-year sales tax exemption on eligible server equipment and new data center facilities. The law also includes technical corrections to existing property tax exemption rules and adds new requirements for businesses receiving exemptions after April 1, 2026, including electricity rate agreements and water conservation plans. Businesses that fail to meet their investment and job creation commitments within specified timeframes must pay the sales taxes they were initially exempted from.
This bill updates Idaho election laws to include the presidential nomination process in state primary elections and shifts the primary date to the Tuesday following the first Monday in May. It requires political party candidates for president to file a $1,000 declaration fee with the secretary of state and establishes procedures for certifying primary results for federal offices. The legislation also limits the number of elections held in any county to two per year, with exceptions for vacancies and emergencies, while exempting water districts from these restrictions.
This bill amends Idaho election law to exempt religious organizations from filing disclosure statements when they spend money to support or oppose ballot measures. Under current rules, nonbusiness entities spending more than $1,000 on election-related activities must report their identity and major donors to the secretary of state. The new provision allows religious groups to avoid this reporting requirement if their election spending is less than 10% of their total income from the previous year. The exemption applies only to ballot measure activities, not to supporting or opposing specific candidates. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes minimum reimbursement rates for independent pharmacies in Idaho by requiring plan sponsors, pharmacy benefit managers, and third-party payers to pay at least the national average drug acquisition cost plus a minimum professional dispensing fee of $12.35, which will increase annually based on inflation. The law defines key terms related to pharmacy reimbursement and mandates that pharmacy benefit managers register with the Idaho Department of Insurance and prohibits certain pricing practices like spread pricing. Additionally, the bill requires the state insurance department to issue guidance to payers and mandates that any underpayments to pharmacies be corrected retroactively from the effective date of the law.
This is a procedural resolution (not a bill with policy changes). It formally states that the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee has completed its required review of all pending tax rules proposed by the Idaho State Tax Commission, as mandated by Idaho Code §67-5291. The resolution confirms the committee approved these rules as part of the standard legislative review process. It does not alter any tax rules or affect taxpayers directly; it only documents the committee's completion of its procedural duty.
HCR 28 is a symbolic legislative resolution urging Idaho residents to voluntarily observe March 1, 2026, as a day of fasting and prayer. It asks Idahoans to pray for peaceful resolutions to political violence and social division, for abundant snow and rain to address water shortages, and for wisdom in decision-making by state and federal leaders. The resolution does not create new laws or obligations - it is a non-binding call for voluntary participation, referencing historical precedents like presidential proclamations and other states' similar observances. It directly affects all Idaho residents by encouraging personal, spiritual reflection on these specific issues.
HJR 9 proposes a constitutional amendment in Idaho to remove language allowing the state legislature to require children to attend public schools between ages six and eighteen. It would add a new provision stating that "the right of the people to educate their children without government regulation outside of public schools shall not be infringed." If approved by voters, this change would directly affect all Idaho parents and students by altering the constitutional basis for education requirements. The amendment focuses on redefining parental education rights rather than creating new laws or regulations.
H 673 amends Idaho's election law to require state legislative candidates (representatives and senators) to maintain actual physical presence at their residence for at least 120 nights during the year before filing their candidacy. This replaces the prior "fixed habitation" requirement with a specific, measurable standard for residency. The bill directly affects candidates seeking Idaho state legislative seats by clarifying and tightening the physical presence requirement for residency qualifications. (Note: The bill is procedural and focuses on candidate qualifications, not broader policy changes.)
This bill updates Idaho's career ladder system for public school staff, affecting instructional and pupil service employees by changing how they advance through compensation levels. It establishes clearer rules for moving up the career ladder based on years of experience, professional endorsements, and performance criteria, while also creating new pathways for career technical education teachers with industry experience. The legislation requires school districts to adjust staff allocations according to these revised placement rules and includes provisions for recognizing prior teaching experience from private or parochial schools.
This bill removes a state law restriction that currently prevents cities and other local governments in Idaho from setting minimum wages higher than the state's minimum wage. The change would allow local political subdivisions to enact their own minimum wage ordinances that exceed the statewide rate of $7.25 per hour. The bill also includes technical corrections to the existing minimum wage statute and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026. This legislation directly affects local governments in Idaho that may wish to establish higher wage floors for employers within their jurisdictions.
