Idaho Bills

This bill appropriates and adjusts funding for Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare's behavioral health services for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, directly affecting substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and psychiatric hospitalization programs. It allocates specific amounts from various state funds to personnel, operating expenses, and capital outlays for children's mental health, adult mental health, and state psychiatric hospitals, while also reducing certain appropriations from other designated funds. The legislation authorizes 15 additional full-time equivalent positions for the Division of Mental Health Services and allows those divisions to transfer money for personnel and benefit payments. Additionally, it requires the Department to submit a report on Idaho Behavioral Health Plan expenditures by December 1, 2026, and declares an emergency to make the funding changes effective immediately.

This bill appropriates $14.18 million to Idaho's Department of Fish and Game for fiscal year 2027, covering administration, fisheries, and wildlife programs from state and federal funds. It authorizes the department to use unspent money from the previous year for new, one-time expenses and designates $200,000 specifically for enhancing wolf trapping to manage predation. The bill requires the department to report how the wolf trapping funds are used by June 30, 2027, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

This Idaho bill allocates and adjusts funding for the Workforce Development Council and the STEM Action Center for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It increases the Workforce Development Council's budget by $1,150,000 from the In-Demand Careers Fund while adding six full-time equivalent positions, but simultaneously reduces its General Fund allocation for operating expenses. The STEM Action Center receives a budget increase from the STEM Education Fund while having its total funding reduced by $76,400 from the General Fund and losing seven full-time equivalent positions. The bill also declares an emergency to allow the General Fund reduction to take effect immediately upon passage, with other provisions beginning on July 1, 2026.

This bill adjusts funding and staffing levels for two Idaho state agencies for fiscal year 2027. It increases money and authorized positions for the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination while reducing both funding and staff positions for the Idaho State Historical Society by the same amount. The legislation also allows the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination to move money between different budget categories without restrictions. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and the bill was signed into law by the Governor.

This bill amends Idaho law to revise the Parental Choice Tax Credit, which provides financial assistance to parents for private school and related educational expenses. It establishes eligibility for Idaho residents with children aged 5 to 18, or children with disabilities up to age 21, to claim a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 per eligible student for qualified expenses including tuition, tutoring, assessments, and transportation. The bill creates a priority application system that favors lower-income families and allows eligible parents to request an advance payment of the credit before filing their tax return. It also repeals the previous advance payment fund and sets specific application deadlines and documentation requirements for claiming the credit.

This bill allocates an additional $200,000 from the General Fund to Idaho's Department of Correction for fiscal year 2027, specifically for the County and Out-of-State Placement Program. The funds are designated for operating expenditures and will be available from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The legislation includes a declaration of emergency to ensure the appropriation takes effect immediately upon passage. This measure directly affects the Department of Correction's budget and resources for managing inmate placement programs.

This Idaho bill restricts how data centers can use water for cooling purposes, specifically targeting facilities that begin construction on or after July 1, 2026. Under the new rules, data centers may only use water for cooling if it comes from a municipal water system, water district, or water and sewer district. The legislation aims to protect local water supplies and watersheds by preventing data centers from using water that would otherwise be available for other community needs. The law requires the state Department of Water Resources to consider these water conservation goals when reviewing water rights applications for data centers.

This bill removes several outdated sections from Idaho's water resources laws, including provisions related to groundwater recharge, a director's report requirement, a water conservation trust account, and multiple sections of the Salmon Falls Creek Water Compact. The legislation directly affects the Idaho Department of Water Resources by eliminating these specific legal requirements that have been identified as obsolete or unnecessary. By repealing these sections, the bill aims to streamline state laws and ensure they remain current and essential for public welfare. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and do not alter any active water management programs or agreements currently in place.

This bill establishes the Merit-Based Health Care Act in Idaho, which requires health care providers participating in Medicaid to base employment and contracting decisions on individual merit and professional qualifications rather than ideological or discriminatory practices. The law specifically prohibits the use of state Medicaid funds to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, bias training, or other policies that consider race or sex in hiring, promotion, or compensation decisions. Providers must comply with these requirements as a condition of their Medicaid agreements, and violations can result in civil penalties ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 depending on the size of the organization and the number of violations. The bill also includes a limited private right of action allowing health care professionals to sue if they face retaliation for refusing to participate in prohibited DEI conduct.

This bill requires state agencies to follow specific procedures when filing insurance claims for property damage exceeding $100,000, including gathering evidence like law enforcement reports and independent damage assessments before accepting settlement offers. It also mandates that proposed settlement agreements be reported to the state controller at least 14 days before acceptance and requires written confirmation from affected agency leaders that payouts represent the maximum available recovery. Additionally, the bill expands confidentiality protections for certain insurance-related reports and updates reporting requirements for state agency agreements to ensure better transparency and oversight.

This bill appropriates approximately $3.1 billion in state and federal funds to Idaho's Public Schools Educational Support Program for fiscal year 2027, covering teacher salaries, student support services, facilities, and special education programs. It directs specific uses for the money, including professional development for educators, additional compensation for instructional staff, technology infrastructure purchases, and targeted funding for English language learners and students with disabilities. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for how districts allocate funds and clarifies the original funding sources for these expenditures.

This bill allocates $200,000 from the state's General Fund to the Idaho Legislature for fiscal year 2026 to support the operations of the Medicaid Review Panel. The funding covers operating expenses from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and includes authority to carry forward any unused funds for nonrecurring expenses in the following fiscal year. The legislation also declares an emergency to allow the appropriation to take effect immediately upon passage, ensuring the panel can continue its work without interruption.