This bill, known as the Motor Voter Act, would automatically register eligible voters when they visit Idaho driver's licensing offices to get a driver's license or identification card. Under the new system, the Division of Motor Vehicles would complete voter registration applications for people who apply for these documents, then forward those applications to county clerks on a weekly basis. The bill includes an opt-out provision, allowing individuals to choose not to be registered to vote during this process, and it would take effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill requires health insurance plans in Idaho to cover fertility preservation services for people facing medically necessary cancer treatments that could impair their fertility. It specifically applies to insurance companies, hospital service corporations, managed care organizations, fraternal benefit societies, and health exchanges that offer medical coverage for health conditions, accidents, or sickness. The law defines fertility preservation services as the collection and preservation of sperm, unfertilized eggs, and ovarian tissue, but excludes the storage of unfertilized genetic materials. Coverage is mandated only when the American Society of Clinical Oncology or the American Society for Reproductive Medicine indicates that a cancer treatment may cause impaired fertility, and the procedures must follow established medical practices or professional guidelines. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill removes a state law that previously prevented local governments in Idaho from regulating auxiliary containers, such as plastic bags. By repealing Section 67-2340 of the Idaho Code, the legislation allows cities and counties to create their own rules about plastic bag usage and disposal within their jurisdictions. The measure directly affects local governments that may wish to implement bag bans or fees, as well as businesses that sell or distribute plastic bags. The bill includes an emergency declaration to ensure the changes take effect immediately upon passage and approval.
Idaho's S 1319, the Emergency Care Affordability Act, protects patients from surprise bills by requiring out-of-network freestanding emergency rooms to accept the in-network rate as full payment for emergency services. It prohibits these facilities from billing patients for costs exceeding the in-network rate (known as "balance billing") and mandates that health insurance plans pay providers directly for emergency care at the in-network rate, including covering the patient's cost-sharing. The law applies specifically to emergency services provided in freestanding emergency rooms (like standalone facilities not attached to hospitals) and covers all health benefit plans, including self-funded plans. This ensures patients receive emergency care without facing unexpected high costs from out-of-network providers.
Idaho's H 720 changes how cities elect their city council members based on population size. Cities with 25,000 residents or fewer can choose to use district elections (where council members represent specific neighborhoods), while cities with more than 25,000 residents must use district elections. The bill requires districts to be drawn from existing voting precincts, roughly equal in population, and council candidates must live in their district. It applies to all Idaho cities and takes effect July 1, 2026.
H 745 prohibits public employers in Idaho from using taxpayer funds to support government unions or their activities. It bans payroll deductions for union dues, restricts government funding of union events or communications, and defines "government unions" to include teacher associations and local education organizations. The law directly affects public employees (like teachers and first responders) and their unions, preventing public funds from subsidizing union operations, political advocacy, or membership drives. Exceptions only apply for critical emergency services by first responders.
S 1221 amends Idaho Code Section 59-1302 to revise the definition of "employee" for the state's public retirement system (PERSI). Specifically, it changes the threshold for who qualifies as an employee eligible for retirement benefits, clarifying that individuals working fewer than 20 hours per week are no longer automatically considered employees under the system. This directly affects Idaho public employees whose work hours fall below this threshold, ensuring only those meeting the revised criteria are counted for retirement benefit eligibility. The change aims to align the definition with current employment patterns and streamline administrative processes for the retirement system.
This bill updates Idaho laws governing physician assistants by clarifying their licensing requirements, practice settings, and collaborative obligations with physicians. It allows physician assistants to independently own medical practices if they maintain a written collaborative agreement with a licensed physician and have at least two years of licensure in another jurisdiction. The legislation also establishes a new physician assistant advisory committee to provide recommendations to the state medical board, while retaining the board's authority over final licensing decisions. Additionally, the bill expands provisions for health professionals requiring supervision and removes certain limitations on physician assistant practice.
This bill allows family members to provide personal care services to eligible Medicaid recipients in Idaho, subject to legislative approval. It authorizes the Department of Health and Welfare to seek federal permission for legally responsible individuals to deliver up to 25 hours of care per week, with oversight by the department. The law limits the total number of family caregivers to 1,000 at any time and ensures that individuals needing more than 25 hours of care can still receive additional support from non-family providers. The bill also directs the department to create rules for managing a wait list for these services.
This bill modifies how the Project Choice program fee is collected and used in Idaho, directly affecting the Idaho State Police and the state's law enforcement funding structure. It establishes a $3.00 to $8.00 fee on vehicle registrations that must be deposited into the Idaho Law Enforcement Fund, with the money restricted to creating career ladders and providing salaries for commissioned officers, dispatch personnel, and forensic staff within the state police. Additionally, the bill requires that any funds in the Law Enforcement Fund exceeding 200% of the annual appropriation for the Project Choice program be transferred to the General Fund at the start of each fiscal year. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to vehicle registrations made on or after that date.
This bill establishes state-level authority over medical intervention mandates in Idaho, preventing local governments and schools from requiring or restricting access to medical procedures like vaccines. It defines key terms such as "medical intervention" and "school" to clarify the scope of protections, while repealing existing immunization-related statutes. The law creates a voluntary registry for tracking children's immunization status and allows parents to opt their children out of the system, with strict rules on who can access the data. Additionally, the bill authorizes state attorneys to seek court injunctions against any local policies that violate these provisions and to recover legal fees in enforcement cases.
This Idaho bill establishes a legal framework that would allow residents to possess, manufacture, transfer, and sell machine guns if federal restrictions on them are repealed, invalidated, or no longer enforced. The law includes a "trigger" mechanism that automatically activates state protections when federal machine gun bans cease to apply, while still prohibiting possession by individuals already barred from owning firearms under state or federal law. Additionally, the bill forbids state and local agencies from using resources to enforce federal machine gun restrictions once they are deemed invalid or unenforceable. The provisions would take effect on July 1, 2026, and include a requirement for the attorney general to notify state officials when a trigger event occurs.
