H 553 requires new Idaho residents to apply for a driver's license, register vehicles, and obtain a vehicle title within 30 days of establishing residency. The bill amends Idaho Code sections 49-301 (driver's licenses), 49-401A (vehicle registration), and 49-502 (vehicle titles) to set these 30-day deadlines. It applies to anyone who moves to Idaho and establishes domicile in the state (defined as living there continuously for at least 30 days), excluding full-time students from other states. Failure to meet these requirements is classified as an infraction.
This Idaho bill (H 550) expands the scope of practice for licensed midwives by allowing them to obtain and administer any medication for maternal or neonatal care - such as antibiotics, pain management, or emergency treatments - if they have the required education, training, and experience. It directly affects licensed midwives and their patients by enabling midwives to provide more comprehensive care during pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care without needing separate physician authorization for these medications. The bill adds a new section (54-5504A) requiring midwives to follow specific protocols for medication use, storage, and emergency transfers to hospitals when needed. It also updates existing rules to clarify medication permissions while maintaining restrictions for high-risk conditions that require physician management.
Idaho's H 546, the Restroom Access Act, requires retail businesses with employee restrooms to allow customers with specific medical conditions (like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, or ostomy devices) to use those facilities under strict conditions. To qualify, customers must provide physician documentation, and the business must have at least three employees present, lack a public restroom nearby, and confirm the employee restroom is safe and accessible. Businesses are protected from liability for non-negligent use, and violations carry a $50 misdemeanor fine. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not require physical changes to existing restrooms.
This Idaho resolution applies to the U.S. Congress under Article V of the Constitution, requesting a convention to propose a constitutional amendment limiting congressional terms. It joins 22 other states seeking to amend the Constitution to set term limits for both House and Senate members, aggregating applications to reach the required two-thirds state threshold. The resolution formally asks Congress to call the convention but does not impose term limits itself. As a state application, it is a procedural step toward potential constitutional change, not a law.
This Idaho bill (S 1235) amends state law to bar a governor from appointing someone to any position requiring Senate confirmation if that person was previously rejected by the Senate. Specifically, if the Senate expressly rejects a gubernatorial nominee for a Senate-confirmable position (like department directors or board members), the nominee cannot be appointed to any similar position for one year after the rejection. The bill directly affects nominees who face Senate rejection and governors who seek to appoint them to other Senate-confirmed roles. It creates a concrete one-year waiting period as a consequence of Senate disapproval.
This bill repeals Idaho's existing law allowing voters to use an affidavit in lieu of photo identification and makes technical corrections to several voter registration and voting sections. The changes affect voters who previously could cast ballots with a signed statement instead of a government-issued photo ID. The bill does not alter the core requirement that voters present identification when voting, but it removes the affidavit option as an alternative. All provisions in this bill take effect on January 1, 2027.
Idaho's H 536 amends county commissioners' authority to control agricultural pests. The bill reorganizes the list of pests into four clear categories: predatory animals (like coyotes harming livestock), rodents (such as gophers), insects (like grasshoppers damaging crops), and plant disease agents. County commissioners will gain explicit power to address these pests on both public and private lands. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, after being declared an emergency. It directly affects county officials managing pest control and landowners facing crop or livestock damage from these pests.
This bill revises Idaho's rules for flag display on government property. It requires all state and local government entities (like counties, cities, and public buildings) to display only specific flags - including the U.S. flag, Idaho's official flag, military flags, and flags for special occasions - while banning most other flags. Noncompliance carries a $2,000 daily penalty per flag, enforced by the Attorney General, who must first give a 10-day cure period before filing a lawsuit. The law also authorizes the Division of Veterans Services to set display protocols for state property.
H 537 requires all Idaho public meetings of governing bodies (like city councils or school boards) to include a public comment period accessible in person or via technology such as phone, video, or internet. It mandates that meeting notices must clearly explain how the public can participate and that governing bodies must fix technology disruptions preventing access before proceeding. The bill also prohibits requiring advance comment submissions and sets rules for comment period lengths based on meeting structure (e.g., timed per agenda item or general). These changes apply to all public agencies in Idaho, effective July 1, 2026.
H 535 revises Idaho's transportation funding formulas to adjust how highway account revenues are distributed. It increases the percentage of funds going to local governments from 38% (2021) to 40% (2025+) while decreasing the state highway account share from 57% to 60%, and eliminates a restriction on using fuel tax revenues. The bill also updates allocations for local bridge inspections and special fuel taxes. These changes directly affect local governments receiving highway funds and the state highway program. The bill makes technical adjustments to existing law without creating new programs or altering tax rates.
This bill revises Idaho's Parent-Student On-Road Driver's Training program, reducing the fee for eligible participants from $15 to $10. It requires students using parent-student training to complete 30 hours of online classroom instruction through approved programs (like Idaho Digital Learning Alliance) and limits this option to students in rural school districts or districts without driver's training courses. Qualifying parents must hold a valid Idaho license with no recent suspensions and log driving sessions. The bill directly affects students aged 14.5-17.5 in eligible districts and their parents/guardians who provide in-car training instead of licensed instructors.
Idaho's S 1231 creates a new license category for "established caterers" - defined as businesses hosting at least 50 events yearly at publicly accessible locations. The bill allows these caterers to serve liquor at events they provide, subject to specific rules: liquor must be served only in approved areas, sales must end when food service stops, and events cannot be promoted as bars. The license costs $400 annually (non-transferable) and does not count toward county liquor license population limits. This directly affects established caterers meeting the 50-event threshold, providing a streamlined option for event-based liquor service under clear operational rules.
