This bill appropriates $3.64 million from state funds to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It specifically allocates $3 million for retirement administration operations and $615,600 for capital expenses, plus $25,400 for portfolio investments. The funding supports the system’s day-to-day management and investment activities, directly affecting Idaho state employees covered by PERS. The bill became effective July 1, 2025, after being signed into law.
H 171 revises Idaho's rules for county and city-based intermodal commerce authorities, which manage transportation hubs like rail and truck terminals. The bill clarifies their authority to acquire land, facilities, and tax-exempt public property (like warehouses and utility infrastructure), while adding a new requirement: any resolution authorizing revenue bonds must be published in a local newspaper, with a 30-day window for legal challenges to the bond issuance. This directly affects counties and cities establishing these authorities, streamlining bond processes but requiring transparency. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, and include technical updates to existing law.
Idaho's H 321 establishes a new, streamlined process for residential property owners to remove unauthorized occupants without court involvement. It allows owners or their agents to request sheriff-led removal if occupants entered unlawfully, weren't tenants or family members, and the owner previously demanded they leave. The bill also creates two new crimes: making false statements to detain property and fraudulent sale/lease of residential property. Owners must submit a verified complaint with specific details, and sheriffs must serve a "notice to vacate" immediately. Owners can be held liable for false claims through civil lawsuits, ensuring accountability.
Idaho's S 1179 amends newborn screening requirements to expand exemption options for parents or guardians. The bill adds two new exemption categories: objections based on philosophical or conscientious beliefs (beyond just religious reasons), and medical exemptions certified by a physician. This directly affects families seeking to opt out of mandatory newborn health screenings. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2025, and passed the Idaho Senate with strong support (31-3-1) in March 2025.
This Idaho bill (H 467) establishes a system allowing eligible inmates to earn sentence reductions through rehabilitation efforts. It provides up to 10 days per month for good behavior and specific credits for completing programs like drug treatment (18 days/month), education (e.g., GED = 60 days, bachelor’s degree = 180 days), or job training. The law applies to most inmates serving non-life sentences in state facilities, excluding those convicted of crimes against children, certain violent offenses, or murder. Credits cannot reduce the minimum sentence period or parole eligibility date, and may be forfeited for new offenses or disciplinary actions. The Department of Correction will manage program approvals and track earned credits toward modified release dates.
Idaho bill H 461 amends the Idaho Launch Grant Program and In-Demand Careers Fund to better target state education funding. It restricts eligible coursework to programs requiring no more than an associate degree, 2 years of full-time training, or specific high-demand fields like healthcare or IT (excluding post-bachelor's degrees). The bill limits grants to $8,000 per student or 80% of tuition (whichever is lower) and requires applicants to use career exploration tools and complete a pathway plan. It also sets an expiration date of July 1, 2029, for these provisions. This directly affects Idaho residents pursuing qualifying in-demand careers through eligible educational programs.
This bill appropriates $1,789,600 to Idaho's State Tax Commission for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), funding operations across departments like General Services, Audit, and Compliance. It authorizes seven additional full-time staff positions (including two temporary roles for a new parental choice tax credit program) and reduces available tax credit funds by $675,000 to cover administration costs. The bill explicitly ties the new positions to implementing Idaho Code Section 63-3029N (parental choice tax credits) and requires budget adjustments for those temporary roles by 2028. It declares an emergency to take effect July 1, 2025.
Idaho's H 240, the "Protecting Campus Free Speech in Higher Education Act," requires public colleges and universities to protect student speech by banning restricted "free speech zones" and prohibiting schools from charging security fees based on the content of student expression or invited speakers. The law mandates clear harassment policies that don't restrict protected speech, requires free speech education for students through campus handbooks and orientations, and demands annual reports on campus speech policies. It directly affects all public institutions of higher education in Idaho receiving state funds, ensuring students and student groups can peacefully assemble, distribute literature, and express views without content-based restrictions. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
Idaho's H 222 requires all state departments (including divisions, bureaus, and constitutional officers) with websites to publish their administrative rules and policies online. These websites must include a specific statement clarifying that agency policy documents "shall not have the force and effect of law." Departments must review and update this content annually to ensure accuracy. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all covered state entities maintaining websites.
This Idaho bill (H 249) appropriates $76.0 million for fiscal year 2026 to fund the operational budgets of six constitutional offices: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Controller, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. It specifies exact funding amounts for each office’s personnel, operating expenses, and benefit payments, while limiting authorized full-time equivalent positions (e.g., Attorney General’s office capped at 227.4 FTEs). The bill also exempts certain offices (Governor, Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor) from standard budget transfer restrictions and includes provisions for fund reallocation. As a funding measure, it directly affects these offices’ budget planning and staffing for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
This Idaho bill (H 336) revises child support enforcement laws to improve collection and streamline processes. It establishes automatic liens on property for overdue payments exceeding $2,000 or 90 days, requires notifying credit bureaus about significant arrears (over $2,000 for 3+ months), and clarifies income withholding procedures for employers. The bill directly affects non-custodial parents who owe support, custodial parents receiving payments, and state agencies like the Department of Health and Welfare. Key changes include updated fee structures for collection services, simplified judicial processes for enforcement, and new provisions for medical support enforcement and order modifications.
This bill increases the annual salary for Idaho Supreme Court justices to $186,508, effective July 1, 2025. It maintains the existing pay structure where Court of Appeals judges earn $8,000 less than Supreme Court justices, district judges earn $6,000 less than Court of Appeals judges, and magistrate judges earn $8,000 less than district judges. The bill also includes a requirement that judges must swear they have no unresolved cases before receiving salary payments. The changes were signed into law by the Governor and take effect on July 1, 2025.
