This bill allocates $100.5 million to Idaho's Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027, covering personnel costs, operating expenses, capital outlays, and benefit payments across various court divisions including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and District Courts. The legislation provides flexibility by exempting the Judicial Branch from certain expense transfer limits, allowing funds to move between categories as needed, and requires monthly transfers of uncommitted retirement contributions to the Judges' Retirement Fund. Additionally, the bill reappropriates up to $16.2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act for nonrecurring expenditures and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.
H 642 adjusts Idaho's public safety officer retirement benefits to ensure consistency between catastrophic injury and death benefits. It increases the lump-sum death benefit for surviving spouses or dependent children to $500,000 (matching the existing catastrophic injury benefit) and adds an annual pension of $75,000 for surviving spouses. The bill specifically affects surviving spouses and dependent children of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty due to catastrophic injuries. Benefits will be funded solely through public safety officers' pension contributions, with no tax on the payments. The legislation repeals outdated death benefit provisions and defines "catastrophic injury" through specific medical criteria.
This Idaho bill removes the requirement for verifying immigration status when applying for crime victims compensation. It amends state law (Section 67-7903) to explicitly exempt this program from verification rules, directly affecting crime victims seeking state-funded financial assistance. Under the change, applicants no longer need to prove "lawful presence" to access compensation under Title 72, Chapter 10. This policy change applies specifically to victims of crime who qualify for state compensation programs.
This bill appropriates state funds to Idaho's Public Safety agencies, including the Department of Correction, Department of Juvenile Corrections, and Idaho State Police, for fiscal year 2027. It allocates specific amounts for personnel costs, operating expenses, capital outlay, and benefit payments across various correctional facilities and programs. The legislation also limits the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions and exempts the appropriation from certain program transfer restrictions. Additionally, it requires accountability reports and establishes conditions, limitations, and restrictions on how the funds can be used.
Idaho's S 1296 amends criminal trespass law to specifically address unauthorized entry into churches or houses of worship. The bill adds that entering such properties without permission, with the intent to intimidate, harass, disrupt services, or disturb religious gatherings, becomes a misdemeanor. Penalties include fines up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail for first offenses, with harsher penalties for repeat violations. This directly affects individuals who trespass on religious properties with malicious intent, expanding existing trespass statutes to protect places of worship.
This Idaho bill revises the law against disturbing the peace to specifically include intentional disruptions at religious gatherings, neighborhoods, families, or individuals through loud noise, fighting, or offensive language near children. It also adds a new provision making it a misdemeanor to disturb funerals, memorial services, or viewings of deceased persons. The law targets individuals who intentionally create such disturbances in these specific settings. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing the legislature with broad support.
This bill revises how Idaho distributes transportation funding from the Highway Distribution Account. It gradually increases the share going to local governments (from 38% to 40% by 2025) while increasing the state highway account share (from 57% to 60%), and eliminates the law enforcement account's allocation. Crucially, it removes a restriction preventing fuel tax revenues (including fees from electric/hybrid vehicles) from being used for highway funding. These changes adjust existing fund distribution formulas without creating new taxes or programs.
Idaho's H 777 updates the state's controlled substances laws by adding specific fentanyl variants (like acetyl fentanyl, beta-methyl fentanyl, and 3-methylthiofentanyl) to Schedule I, the highest control category. It also broadens the definition of "fentanyl-related substances" to include any structurally similar compounds, covering new analogs not explicitly listed. This directly affects pharmacies, hospitals, and law enforcement by requiring stricter handling, registration, and record-keeping for these substances. The bill also makes technical corrections to provisions on drug prescriptions, storage, and disciplinary actions related to controlled substances.
Idaho's H 698 amends Section 18-310 of the Idaho Code to allow individuals convicted of felonies in other states (excluding treason) to register and vote in Idaho upon completing their sentence (final discharge). This directly affects out-of-state felons who have served their full sentence, granting them voting rights they previously lacked under Idaho law. The bill explicitly states these individuals "shall not have the right restored to ship, transport, possess or receive a firearm" in the same manner as Idaho felons, but does not alter firearm restrictions. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.
H 697 creates new felony crimes related to election violations in Idaho. It defines three specific offenses: voting illegally (e.g., by someone not entitled to vote or voting multiple times), interfering with elections (e.g., altering ballots or destroying election materials), and tampering with voting machines or tally systems. These provisions replace outdated language and establish clear felony penalties for these actions. The bill directly affects individuals who commit these specific election-related violations, making them subject to criminal prosecution.
