This Idaho bill updates state laws to clarify definitions and strengthen protections against material harmful to minors. It directly affects individuals who distribute, sell, or provide explicit content to people under 18, as well as schools and public libraries. The legislation establishes specific definitions for terms like "minor," "nudity," and "sexual conduct," while prohibiting the promotion or distribution of sexually explicit materials to adolescents. Schools and libraries are explicitly barred from giving or making available such harmful material to minors. The law classifies violations as misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a fine of $1,000.
This bill establishes a new chapter in Idaho law to address alleged violations of legal prohibitions by public officers and employees. It allows certain government leaders to refer potential violations to the attorney general, who must notify the accused party and give them 14 days to either admit and fix the violation or deny it. If the violation is not resolved, the attorney general may file a court action to enforce compliance or seek to disqualify the individual from public office for up to five years. The bill applies to state agencies, schools, political subdivisions, and other public entities, excluding legislative and judicial branches.
This Idaho bill (S 1260) revises state laws governing immigration enforcement. It removes outdated provisions about illegal entry, clarifies definitions (like "illegal alien" and "dangerous crime"), and changes penalties: first illegal entry becomes a misdemeanor, repeat offenses a felony. The law requires police to enforce these rules only when someone is detained for unrelated crimes, and adds specific defenses (e.g., having federal permission to stay, asylum status, or DACA approval between 2012-2021). It takes effect July 1, 2026.
H 690 removes the Attorney General's requirement to establish a sobriety and drug monitoring program. It amends Idaho Code by deleting subsection (18) from Section 67-1401 (which directed the Attorney General to create this program) and repeals all related sections (67-1412 through 67-1416) that detailed the program's rules and fees. This bill directly affects the Attorney General's office by eliminating a specific duty to implement and manage this program. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, with no new program or requirements replacing the repealed provisions.
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.
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.
