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.
This bill allocates $46.1 million to Idaho's Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination for fiscal year 2027 while simultaneously reducing funding and staffing for two related offices. It sets a maximum of 23 full-time positions for the main office, cuts 11 positions from the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, and reduces 16 positions from the Office of Species Conservation. The legislation also lowers operating budgets for the energy and minerals office and the species conservation office, while maintaining or increasing funding for the main coordination office from various state and federal sources.
This bill eliminates the proration of Idaho's homestead property tax exemption, allowing homeowners to receive the full exemption amount for the entire tax year if they qualify. It applies to owners who use their primary residence as their main dwelling and meet specific eligibility requirements, including uniform property appraisal certification by the state tax commission. Under the new rules, the exemption is calculated based on the full market value reduction rather than being divided by the number of days the property is occupied, and applications must be submitted by the end of the county's business year to receive the full benefit. The law also clarifies that if a homeowner's eligibility status changes during the year, taxes will be prorated only for the period after the status change occurs.
This bill appropriates funding for the Idaho Transportation Department for fiscal year 2027, covering personnel costs, operating expenses, and capital projects across transportation services, motor vehicle programs, and highway operations. It authorizes the department to use unspent funds from the previous fiscal year for specific purposes like airport development grants, construction contracts, and right-of-way acquisitions, with a reappropriation limit of $300 million for construction and acquisition activities. The legislation also allows for corrections of accounting errors from prior years and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, when the funding becomes available for use.
This bill allocates funding to the Idaho Department of Lands for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, directing specific amounts to support personnel costs, capital projects, and trustee benefit payments across various programs including business services, forest resources, trust land management, fire protection, and minerals. The legislation provides $2.7 million for fiscal year 2027 and $285,000 for fiscal year 2026, while simultaneously reducing certain appropriations from previous budgets to balance the overall funding. It designates $145,000 specifically for the Idaho Geological Survey and allows the Forest and Range Fire Protection Program to receive unlimited transfers from other departmental funds for both fiscal years. Additionally, the bill limits General Fund bonuses to firefighters with incident qualification cards and requires a report on 2026 fire season bonus awards to be submitted by January 5, 2027.
This bill appropriates $72.5 million from Idaho's Permanent Building Fund to the Department of Administration's Division of Public Works for fiscal year 2027 to fund capital projects, maintenance, and repairs across state facilities. The funds are allocated for specific purposes including building maintenance, ADA compliance projects, and the design of a new readiness center in Bonneville County. The bill requires the Division of Public Works to report annually on project status and allows unused funds from completed projects or delayed projects to be reallocated for new priorities with approval from the Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council.
This bill provides funding for Idaho's Soil and Water Conservation Commission for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, directing money through both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water Resources. It reduces the Department of Agriculture's allocation for 2027 while increasing the Department of Water Resources' funding for the same period, with specific amounts designated for personnel, operations, capital outlays, and trustee and benefit payments. The legislation also sets aside $300,000 to distribute equally among the state's 50 soil and water conservation districts and provides an additional $12,900 for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Once signed into law, the bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, with one section becoming effective immediately upon signing.
This bill updates Idaho Medicaid rules to increase transparency and oversight of payments to healthcare providers, particularly those serving people with disabilities. It establishes specific payment rates based on Medicare equivalents for most services, requires annual cost surveys with audits for residential habilitation providers, and mandates that providers spend allocated funds on direct care worker wages or face potential penalties. The legislation also introduces value-based payment options for certain providers, sets reimbursement percentages for different hospital types, and requires the state to reduce general fund spending on hospital payments by specified amounts. Additionally, it declares certain existing administrative rules null and void as of July 1, 2026, and requires all future provider rate changes to receive legislative approval through the budget process.
This bill updates Idaho's Transportation Support Program to clarify which costs school districts and transportation providers can claim for reimbursement when moving students to and from school. It defines allowable expenses such as vehicle maintenance, driver salaries, and contracted transportation services, while excluding costs for optional vehicle features not essential for safety or disability transport. The state will typically cover 50% of reimbursable costs, with higher reimbursement rates for training, fees, and bus maintenance, and includes a cap based on statewide average costs per mile or per student rider. The law also extends reimbursement eligibility to home-based public virtual schools for internet, equipment, and face-to-face visit costs, and establishes specific criteria for hardship bus runs that may qualify for higher reimbursement limits.
This bill provides additional funding and staffing to Idaho's Office of the State Public Defender for fiscal year 2027. It allocates $505,100 total from state funds, including $250,900 for personnel costs and $250,500 for operating expenses, while also authorizing six additional full-time equivalent positions. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring the office has necessary resources to support public defense services during the fiscal year.
