This bill updates Idaho's child protection laws by adding a new provision for "school of origin hearings" and revising definitions and terminology throughout the Child Protective Act. The key mechanism allows children in foster care to request a hearing to determine whether they should remain in their original school or be transferred to a new one, ensuring their educational stability during placement. The legislation also clarifies terms like "abused," "abandoned," and "aggravated circumstances" to provide clearer guidance for courts and child welfare agencies. These changes directly affect families involved in child protective services cases, schools, and state agencies responsible for child welfare decisions.
This bill allows cities in Idaho to permit multifamily residential housing developments in areas currently zoned for commercial use, such as office or retail districts. It requires local governments to update their land use regulations to allow these developments while maintaining existing commercial design standards and limiting parking requirements to one space per unit unless safety concerns justify more. The bill mandates that qualifying projects be approved automatically without discretionary review, provided they meet established land use requirements, and protects developers from standards that would make projects economically unfeasible. Exclusions apply to industrial zones, environmentally sensitive areas, and airport approach zones, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill amends Idaho law to allow county-wide highway districts to automatically expand their service area when a city within the district annexes territory from an adjoining county. The change ensures that the highway district maintains responsibility for roads in newly annexed areas without requiring additional votes or legislative action. It clarifies that the district's jurisdiction follows the city's boundaries, so road maintenance and tax collection responsibilities shift to the district when annexation occurs. The bill also includes standard provisions for how the highway district commissioners can create and enforce local rules through a two-thirds vote and public notice.
This bill updates Idaho laws to expand the scope of practice for licensed dental hygienists, allowing them to perform a broader range of dental interventions based on their education, training, and experience or as delegated by a supervising dentist. Key changes include authorizing hygienists to conduct dental assessments and diagnoses, develop treatment plans, and administer topical medications for minor oral conditions, while maintaining requirements for independent practitioners to refer patients to dentists for care beyond their expertise. The legislation also clarifies definitions of dental hygiene practice and establishes penalties for unlicensed individuals performing these services without proper supervision.
This bill establishes limits on the number of non-U.S. resident student athletes who can receive scholarships at public colleges and universities in Idaho. It requires that no more than 10% of all sports roster positions and no more than 50% of any single athletic team be held by international student athletes receiving financial aid. The legislation also mandates that scholarships awarded to Idaho residents be prioritized for student athletes and requires the state board of education to create rules for monitoring compliance and reporting data to the legislature annually. Existing scholarship agreements made before July 1, 2026, are protected from these new restrictions for up to four academic years.
This bill amends Idaho law to regulate development on religious land owned or leased by religious organizations, requiring cities to allow multifamily and mixed-use housing without special approvals. It defines specific terms like religious land, multifamily, and mixed-use, and sets minimum standards for building height, setbacks, and parking while prohibiting cities from restricting density or unit sizes beyond certain limits. The law applies to developments received by cities on or after July 1, 2026, but excludes religious land near heavy industrial uses, airports, or military bases. Cities retain authority to enforce standard building codes, water and sewer access, and stormwater management requirements. Notably, the bill does not allow for homeless shelters and does not mandate their approval.
H 687 requires Idaho state agencies to procure only artificial intelligence systems that prioritize factual accuracy and avoid promoting political or social agendas (including DEI concepts). It prohibits AI that alters historical facts for DEI outcomes, suppresses content based on race or sex, or embeds DEI-based constraints overriding objectivity. Contracts for such AI must include verification requirements for vendors, and agencies must conduct compliance reviews. The law specifically applies to "large language models" used by state government departments and institutions.
This bill amends Idaho Code sections governing the Idaho Forest Products Commission, primarily updating definitions and administrative procedures. It directly affects forest product manufacturers (businesses processing timber into lumber, paper, or other products in Idaho), requiring them to pay a 50-cent assessment per thousand board feet for timber harvested in Idaho - regardless of where it's processed later. Key changes include revised definitions of terms like "forest lands," updated commission membership rules (with governor appointments from financial supporter lists), and technical corrections to assessment provisions. The bill does not change fee amounts or create new obligations beyond clarifying existing assessment rules for manufacturers.
H 533 eliminates the requirement for vehicle registration stickers in Idaho. The bill amends multiple sections of Idaho Code (including 49-402, 49-402A, and 49-411) to remove all references to physical stickers, validation stickers, and rental car stickers from vehicle registration laws. This change directly affects all Idaho vehicle owners who previously needed to display or replace registration stickers. The key mechanism is removing sticker-related provisions from the code, including the $2.00 fee for replacement stickers listed in Section 49-202(l). The bill does not change other registration processes or fees, such as those for titles or license plates.
H 555 updates Idaho's Solid Waste Facilities Act by revising regulations for solid waste facilities, primarily affecting the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), counties, health districts, and waste facility operators. It repeals outdated site certification rules (sections 39-7408A-D) and replaces them with new processes for application reviews, public input, and administrative approvals. The bill adds new sections to establish a Solid Waste Regulatory Fund, set application fees, and create standards for co-located facilities and site operations. These changes streamline permitting, clarify agency responsibilities, and modernize compliance requirements without altering the act's core environmental protection goals.
Idaho's S 1317 creates a framework for voluntary regional service centers (RSCs) that school districts and public charter schools can form to share specialized staff and administrative services. The bill allows multiple local education agencies to pool resources for high-cost, hard-to-staff roles like psychologists and special education support under IDEA, while maintaining local control over curriculum and enrollment. RSCs would receive state funding for core administrative services (e.g., HR, finance), operate under locally governed boards, and offer additional fee-based services through agreements. This aims to reduce duplication, improve compliance with federal special education requirements, and lower costs for participating schools.
This Idaho bill prohibits public schools from granting excused absences for student participation in political protests, political lobbying activities, or walkouts. It requires such absences to be counted as unexcused, affecting school attendance records and funding calculations. Schools must annually report these unexcused absences to the state superintendent, with reports beginning in 2027. The law applies to all Idaho public K-12 schools and charter schools.
