State Affairs

This bill requires individuals who are paid to gather signatures on election petitions or conduct in-person voter outreach in Idaho to disclose their compensation to voters. Under the new rules, paid signature gatherers must verbally inform each person they are receiving payment and display a badge identifying them as a paid circulator, while also printing this information on petition pages. Paid canvassers must also update their affidavits to confirm they notified signers about receiving payment before collecting signatures. The legislation applies to both petition circulation and broader paid in-person voter contact activities, while maintaining existing requirements for residency and age.

This bill updates Idaho election laws to improve how ballots are counted, adjudicated, and audited. It requires county clerks to wait until all voting places across both time zones have closed before releasing statewide election results, while allowing earlier release for counties with only one time zone. The legislation also mandates that overvotes on paper ballots processed by machines be reviewed and corrected to reflect voter intent using the same standards as hand counting. Additionally, it establishes a mandatory postelection audit system where the secretary of state selects specific ballots for a hand recount and comparison, with provisions for public observation and the ability to order additional audits if problems are found. These changes directly affect election officials, candidates, and voters by standardizing procedures and increasing transparency in the vote counting process.

This Idaho bill establishes a comprehensive campaign finance transparency framework that applies to candidates, political action committees, political party committees, and electioneering communications. The legislation requires detailed reporting of all contributions and expenditures, mandates the appointment of political treasurers to oversee campaign finances, and prohibits foreign contributions and independent expenditures. It also mandates that polls funded by others must disclose their payers and requires disclosure of payments made to signature gatherers. The bill creates new administrative duties for the Secretary of State and county clerks while establishing civil penalties and enforcement mechanisms for violations.

This bill would require Idaho law enforcement agencies to apply for participation in a federal Section 287(g) program that allows local police and sheriff's offices to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on immigration enforcement activities. The legislation establishes a new state code section that mandates eligible agencies to seek these agreements, which would enable specially trained local officers to perform specific immigration-related functions like investigating and detaining noncitizens under federal oversight. However, the bill includes exceptions allowing agencies to opt out if they determine such cooperation would hinder their ability to provide other necessary community services, and requires agencies to explain their reasons if they cannot participate or participate fully. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to municipal police departments and county sheriff's offices across Idaho.

This bill allows Idaho correctional officials to release certain illegal alien offenders from state custody before their sentences end, transferring them to federal immigration authorities for deportation. It applies only to individuals with fixed-term sentences, excluding those facing life imprisonment or the death penalty, and requires a final deportation order from the U.S. Attorney General before release can occur. Released offenders remain subject to their original sentences, with any remaining time tolled until they are arrested again or return to the United States illegally, and they must continue to pay court-ordered restitution. The law also mandates that victims receive written notice before release and prohibits future conditional release for anyone who illegally reenters the country. The provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.