This bill appropriates specific funding amounts to Idaho's Medicaid program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, affecting the Department of Health and Welfare's Division of Medicaid. It allocates money from various state and federal funds to support different Medicaid plans, including Basic, Enhanced, Coordinated, and Expansion plans, as well as administrative costs and hospital assessments. The legislation also reduces certain appropriations from the Hospital Assessment Fund and other sources for these same programs during the covered periods. Once signed into law, the bill directs how these funds will be distributed and spent to cover Medicaid benefits and operational expenses for eligible Idaho residents.
This bill appropriates $30.7 million to the Department of Health and Welfare and $250,000 to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027 to fund assertive community treatment and peer support services. The funding comes from multiple sources, including the State-Directed Opioid Settlement Fund, the Idaho Millennium Income Fund, and federal cooperative welfare funds. The bill also allows the Department of Health and Welfare to transfer money freely between programs to support these services and permits up to $5.8 million of opioid settlement funds to be used for individuals with substance use or mental health issues who do not have opioid use disorder. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and the bill was signed into law by the Governor.
This bill adjusts funding for Idaho's Division of Student Support for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, allocating $11.9 million from specific funds while reducing overall appropriations by nearly $10 million. The legislation lowers per-student funding for fully virtual schools, cuts $7.5 million in transportation reimbursements, and requires schools offering online classes to report enrollment and attendance data. It also modifies how English learner funds are distributed, establishes new requirements for technology education programs, and mandates a report on special education spending.
This bill amends Idaho law to revise how Community Infrastructure Districts can be formed, allowing cities and counties to create special zones for planning infrastructure before development begins. The key provision requires that any district be approved by local government bodies and must follow existing land use planning rules, while also specifying that only publicly owned infrastructure can be financed through these districts. The legislation creates a legal framework for advance payment of development impact fees and provides additional financing tools to help new growth pay for itself more quickly.
This bill directs Idaho's Secretary of State to place an advisory question on the 2026 general election ballot asking voters to choose one firearm from a list of six options to designate as the state gun. The legislation includes findings about the historical role of firearms in Idaho and American history, emphasizing their use in westward expansion, survival, and self-defense. Voters will be presented with choices including the Winchester Model 1894, Winchester Model 1873, Colt Single Action Army Revolver, M1 Garand rifle, Colt M1911 pistol, and Remington Model 700 rifle. The Legislative Council may add additional firearms to the ballot before the election, and the results will guide the Legislature in officially designating the state gun.
This bill amends Idaho's open meetings law to allow the public to record government meetings, including capturing audio, video, or photographs. It applies to all public agency governing bodies except for specific executive sessions and meetings held in correctional facilities or by the pardons and parole commission. The legislation also clarifies that recording cannot be used as a reason to remove or exclude attendees, while still permitting agencies to take reasonable steps to maintain order during meetings. Additionally, the bill permits meetings to be conducted via telecommunications devices like video conferencing, as long as at least one member remains physically present and communications remain audible to the public.
This bill establishes a new regulatory framework in Idaho for large industrial or commercial electricity customers, requiring public utilities to obtain commission approval before serving new loads that would increase power demand by 50 megawatts or more. The law mandates that utilities conduct a "no harm test" to ensure these new customers can fully cover their share of infrastructure costs without raising rates for existing residential and business customers. Key provisions include a 270-day review period for service contracts, requirements for financial security to protect against stranded costs, and rules preventing customers from splitting loads to avoid the new requirements. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies only to service contracts entered into on or after that date.
This bill directs the Idaho State Controller to transfer specific funds between various state accounts for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, primarily moving money from specialized funds into the General Fund and limiting legislative spending. For fiscal year 2026, it transfers $5.8 million from the Permanent Building Fund to the Legislative Account while capping legislative spending at $8.17 million, and moves $13 million from the Idaho Broadband Fund and remaining School District Building Account balances to the General Fund. The bill also authorizes transfers from the Twenty-seventh Payroll Fund to cover potential budget shortfalls and directs interest earnings from multiple funds to the Strategic Initiatives and Fire Suppression Deficiency Warrant Funds. For fiscal year 2027, the legislation reduces the legislative spending cap to $8.09 million and requires transfers of interest earnings from the Budget Stabilization, Public Education Stabilization, and Water Pollution Control Funds to the General Fund to maintain a minimum cash balance of $150 million.
This bill updates Idaho's industrial hemp laws to allow the sale of hemp products intended for human ingestion or inhalation, such as edibles and vapes, while excluding certain hemp seed products. It requires the state agriculture department to create rules for hemp production and processing that align with federal guidelines and the 2018 Farm Bill, with stricter state rules requiring clear labeling of how they differ from federal standards. The law also establishes a process for penalties and appeals, ensuring individuals receive notice and a hearing before facing fines, and mandates that new rules follow a negotiated rulemaking process.
This bill appropriates and adjusts funding for Idaho's Division of Welfare for fiscal year 2027, covering the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. It allocates $6.9 million total from two Cooperative Welfare funds, with $3 million designated for personnel costs and $3.8 million for operating expenses, while also setting aside $98,300 for benefit payments. The legislation simultaneously reduces the overall appropriation by $3.1 million from the Federal Fund, specifically cutting $3 million for personnel and $98,300 for benefit payments. The bill includes a declaration of emergency and takes effect immediately upon signing.
H 706 allows Idaho local governments to permit apartment buildings (specifically residential group R-2) to have a single stairway for emergency exits, subject to strict safety requirements. These requirements include building height limits (max 6 stories without an occupiable roof), a maximum of four units per floor, mandatory fire sprinkler systems meeting NFPA 13 standards, and detailed stairway specifications like 48-inch width and 2-hour fire resistance. The bill also updates local building code adoption rules, requiring jurisdictions to implement specific versions of the International Building Code by 2027. This change primarily affects new apartment construction in Idaho, offering potential cost savings for developers while maintaining enhanced safety standards.
H 721 updates Idaho's building code rules for public school construction plans. It allows school districts to choose between local governments or the state division of occupational and professional licenses for plan reviews, but sets strict certification requirements for reviewers (e.g., International Code Council certification for structural reviews). The bill mandates a 30-day initial review timeline and limits fees for school plan reviews to those set by the state division. It directly affects public school districts, contractors, and local governments handling school construction projects.
