Idaho Bills

Idaho's S 1083 revises water use regulations to clarify what qualifies as "domestic" water use, directly affecting homeowners and small-scale users. It sets specific daily limits: 13,000 gallons for residential use (including up to half an acre of irrigation) or 0.04 cubic feet per second with a 2,800 acre-foot annual cap, while excluding multi-unit housing, commercial properties, and most subdivisions unless they meet these strict limits. The bill also updates well-drilling rules for domestic use (requiring inspections but not permits for basic home use), strengthens enforcement for illegal water diversions, and removes outdated provisions about water delivery in subdivisions. These changes aim to standardize domestic water rights under Idaho law without altering broader water permit requirements.

Idaho Senate Bill 1015 reorganizes hospital licensing and inspection regulations by repealing outdated sections of existing law and adding new, clear provisions. It establishes definitions for key terms (like "hospital" and "Department"), creates new rules for licensure applications and license revocation, and updates inspection procedures. The bill directly affects hospitals, health departments, and healthcare facilities operating in Idaho by clarifying regulatory requirements. It also removes references to home health agencies and nullifies specific administrative rules in Idaho’s regulations. This is a procedural update to streamline oversight, not a new policy change.

This bill appropriates $1,414,100 in state funds for Idaho's Special Programs during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), directly funding the State Board of Education and the University of Idaho's Board of Regents. It allocates specific amounts for Forest Utilization Research ($19,500), Geological Survey ($12,800), the Museum of Natural History ($5,600), and Scholarships/Grants ($1,375,000). The bill also authorizes an additional 0.27 full-time equivalent positions for these programs during the same period. Signed into law on March 19, 2025, it takes effect July 1, 2025.

Idaho's S 1011 amends wildlife management law to require that each winter feeding advisory committee for antelope, elk, and deer includes at least one agricultural producer (farmer or rancher) from the local district. The bill mandates that all five committee members must be residents of the district they serve, appointed by the state wildlife agency. Committees will advise on winter feeding programs and act as liaisons between the agency, landowners, and the public. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, for new appointments.

H 280 amends Idaho law to allow relatives of state legislators (within the second degree of blood or marriage) to participate in the legislative page program. The bill specifically creates an exemption in Section 18-1359, removing a previous restriction that barred such relatives from legislative employment paid by public funds. This change directly affects family members of legislators who may join the youth program, which provides hands-on experience for high school students. The exemption applies only to the page program and does not alter other conflict-of-interest rules for legislative appointments.

This Idaho bill (S 1051) creates specific legal grounds for pausing or denying license suspensions related to unpaid child support. It directly affects Idaho residents who owe child support and face license suspension, allowing them to stop suspensions if they prove one of seven qualifying conditions (e.g., disability, incarceration with no assets, receiving SSI benefits, or having court-ordered custody of children). The law explicitly blocks other common excuses like unemployment or claiming support payments are too high. It repeals outdated administrative rules and takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Idaho's S 1150 appropriates $1.84 million for the Department of Agriculture and $1.04 million for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission for fiscal years 2025-2026. It directs $1 million of the commission's funds specifically for the Water Quality Program for Agriculture, providing cost-share financing to help farmers implement soil and water conservation practices, improve drainage systems, and adopt sustainable farming methods. The bill also transfers $1.72 million from the General Fund to the Pest Control Deficiency Fund to cover agricultural pest control costs. These funds are allocated to specific programs like animal health inspections, plant pest management, and agricultural quality assurance, with all appropriations effective July 1, 2025.

H 346 is a routine appropriations bill that allocates $25,000 to Idaho's State Treasurer for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It specifies funding from four sources: $7,500 from the General Fund, $2,500 from the State Treasurer LGIP Fund, $5,000 from the Treasurer's Office Professional Services Fund, and $10,000 from the Abandoned Property Trust Unclaimed Property Fund. The bill declares an emergency to take effect immediately on July 1, 2025, and was signed into law by the Governor on March 19, 2025. It directly affects the State Treasurer's office by providing funds for operating expenses, with no policy changes beyond this budget allocation.

This bill appropriates $1.8 million for Idaho's Division of Veterans Services for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), allocating funds across personnel, operating, and capital expenses from the General Fund, Miscellaneous Revenue Fund, Veterans Home Endowment Fund, and Federal Grant Fund. It reduces operating expenditures by $1.1 million from the Miscellaneous Revenue and Federal Grant Funds while allowing the reappropriation of up to $111.49 million in unspent federal grant balances for the Boise and Lewiston Veterans Homes. The bill directly affects veterans' services programs, including home operations and support services, by setting funding levels and enabling the use of unspent federal funds for nonrecurring expenses.

This bill appropriates $533,400 to Idaho's Department of Insurance for fiscal year 2025-2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It allocates funds specifically for insurance regulation ($323,100) and the State Fire Marshal program ($210,300), covering staff salaries, operations, and equipment. The bill also authorizes two additional full-time staff positions for the department during this period. It became effective July 1, 2025, after being signed into law by the governor.

This bill appropriates $468,300 from the General Fund to Idaho's Office of the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It allocates specific amounts for personnel costs ($36,500), operating expenses ($402,800), and capital outlays ($29,000), with $6,700 designated for the Commission on Uniform State Laws. The bill also reappropriates unspent 2025 funds for election integrity audits and system upgrades, requiring confirmation by the State Controller and Legislative Services Office. It takes effect immediately on July 1, 2025, to address an emergency.

This bill replaces Idaho's outdated rules for licensing long-term care facility administrators with a unified system. It creates the Idaho Board of Long-Term Care Administrators to oversee both nursing home and residential care facility administrators, requiring facilities to be supervised by a licensed administrator or an approved temporary "administrator designee." The law establishes clear licensing requirements, continuing education rules, disciplinary procedures, and defines key terms like "residential care facility" (for 3+ elderly/disabled adults) and "long-term care administrator." The new rules take effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting all Idaho facilities providing long-term care services.