This Idaho bill (S 1330) increases the monetary limit for small claims cases in magistrate courts from $5,000 to $15,000 for both money claims and personal property claims. It directly affects individuals and small businesses filing or defending such cases in Idaho's magistrate divisions. The bill clarifies that these courts cannot award punitive damages or compensation for pain/suffering in small claims proceedings. The amendment to Idaho Code § 1-2301 takes effect July 1, 2026.
Idaho's H 730 strengthens SNAP program integrity by requiring the Department of Health and Welfare to verify household eligibility using multiple data sources. It mandates monthly reviews of vital records, corrections data, and federal databases (like death records, incarceration status, and tax filings), and quarterly checks of employment and tax information. The bill also requires the department to disenroll households with lottery winnings exceeding $3,000 or asset limits for elderly/disabled households, and to publish annual reports on fraud investigations and improper payments. Additionally, it prohibits Idaho from applying income or asset standards higher than federal limits without federal approval. This directly affects SNAP recipients whose circumstances (like income changes, incarceration, or lottery winnings) trigger verification reviews.
This bill clarifies that Idaho chiropractors with clinical nutrition certification may prescribe specific non-controlled medications, including certain vitamins (A, B complex, C), minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc), fluids (saline, dextrose), epinephrine, and oxygen for emergencies. It specifies these drugs must be obtained from licensed sources and administered via approved routes, while prohibiting chiropractors from compounding vitamins/minerals themselves. The law directly affects certified chiropractors in Idaho, allowing them to prescribe these items during practice without altering existing non-prescription supplement use. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing unanimously in the Idaho Senate.
Idaho's S 1336 requires all public high school students to demonstrate core virtues (like patriotism and justice) and master key principles of American self-government, including natural rights, the rule of law, and the separation of powers, before graduation. It mandates two credits each in American history and government for grades 9-12, with a full-year Western civilization course required for 8th graders by 2030. The bill specifies curricula must cover foundational documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution), the American founding era, and the influence of Western traditions, while including instruction on how totalitarian ideologies like communism conflict with U.S. principles. These changes directly affect Idaho public school students and educators developing course materials. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
S 1313 creates a voluntary licensure pathway for pharmacists in Idaho to become naturopathic doctors by requiring them to complete a 160-credit-hour naturopathic program and pass a competency exam, while maintaining their existing pharmacy license. The bill amends Idaho Code to include pharmacists in the definition of "licensed naturopathic doctor" and updates committee structures to reflect this new option, including adding a pharmacist to the formulary committee. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.
Idaho's H 772 clarifies when hemp producers avoid "negligent violation" penalties under state law. It specifies that producers won't face penalties if they grow hemp solely for grain or fiber, make reasonable efforts to keep THC below 1% (dry weight), and comply with Idaho's hemp plan and THC rules. This directly affects hemp growers who meet these conditions, providing them protection from penalties for unintentional THC exceedances. The bill amends Idaho Code Section 22-1705 to define these specific exemptions.
Idaho's H 776 requires immediate safety checks for infants under one year old when parents or caregivers have specific risk factors, such as a history of child abuse, a conviction for child injury, terminated parental rights, or a newborn with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Within 12 hours of receiving a report, child protection agencies must verify these risk factors using internal records and public databases, then conduct a full safety assessment. The assessment reviews the caregiver’s compliance with court orders, the child’s living situation, and prior investigations into abuse or neglect in the household. The law explicitly states it does not presume abuse based solely on medical conditions and allows for urgent action if verification takes too long.
H 765 amends Idaho law to simplify how fire protection districts can transfer territory between districts and exempts certain fire and library districts from specific budget limitations. It revises annexation rules (Section 31-1411) to allow territory moves via owner petitions (with service improvement proof) or mutual board consent, and updates budget rules (Section 63-802) to remove spending caps for eligible districts. These changes directly affect fire and library districts, their taxpayers, and property owners in areas seeking to join or leave districts. The bill makes procedural updates to property tax assessments (Section 63-301A) but focuses on enabling district flexibility in territory management and budgeting.
Idaho bill H 508 amends highway laws to clarify when bicycle and pedestrian facilities can be included in road projects. The bill specifies that such improvements may only be added as a secondary benefit to projects primarily designed for motor vehicles, or when funded by federal grants, or to enhance safety near schools/parks. It also requires highway projects to maintain minimum 50-foot right-of-way widths and prohibits reducing non-residential road widths except for federal requirements. These changes affect state transportation planning and project design under Idaho Code sections 40-605 and 40-117.
This Idaho bill (H 516) prohibits public school staff from providing classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to students in kindergarten through grade 12. It requires schools to adopt policies banning such instruction unless it is age-appropriate and developmentally suitable per state standards. The law directly affects Idaho public schools and their curriculum decisions for all K-12 students. Key mechanisms include mandating school policies that prevent classroom lessons on these topics, while allowing age-appropriate discussions that align with educational standards. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
Idaho's H 542, the "Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act," targets major social media platforms (those earning $1+ billion in global ad revenue) operating in Idaho. It directly affects children under 16 by restricting platforms' use of specific "addictive interface features" like infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, and profile-based feeds. The law triggers two usage-based restrictions: after 25 cumulative hours in six months, platforms must notify parents; after 50 hours, they must disable addictive features for minors. The bill defines key terms and establishes enforcement mechanisms, focusing on protecting Idaho children's online experiences without banning social media use.
This bill amends Idaho school law to prohibit in-person student instruction on election days, ensuring schools do not operate as polling places unless a specific agreement is made between the county clerk and school district. It directly affects school districts, students, and election officials by restricting classroom activities during election periods while allowing exceptions for activities that do not require students to be inside buildings used for voting. The law permits professional development, training, and extracurricular activities on election days as long as they do not involve students being present in designated polling locations, and it grants the state board of education authority to waive instructional hour requirements when election-related closures are necessary.
