This Idaho bill (H 578) requires legislative approval for a Medicaid state plan amendment to provide transition services for juveniles in custody. It directly affects incarcerated juveniles within 30 days of release from correctional facilities after a court hearing, ensuring they receive medical/dental screenings and case management referrals. Key provisions mandate that these services - screenings meeting medical standards and referrals to local care - must be included in a state plan submitted by July 2026, with services starting no earlier than July 2027. The bill also specifies that services must align with federal Medicaid requirements and depend on annual legislative funding.
This bill revises Idaho's legal definition of "sexual contact" to explicitly include specific sexual acts (like intercourse, genital contact, or oral contact) and any physical contact with sexual intent. It prohibits correctional facility employees (including private facility staff) and supervising officers from having such contact with prisoners, juvenile offenders, parolees, or probationers (unless the person is their spouse). Violations would be classified as felonies punishable by up to life imprisonment. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
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.
Idaho's H 604 amends laws governing sexual offender registration by changing requirements for psychosexual evaluations. It states that a defendant's failure to provide a completed evaluation may lead to a harsher sentence, and clarifies that convicted offenders must pay for evaluations unless they prove financial hardship (in which case the county pays but requires repayment). The bill also specifies that if government funds cover an evaluation, the defendant must repay the government through standard restitution procedures. These changes apply to individuals convicted of offenses listed under Idaho Code §18-8304 who are ordered to undergo such evaluations.
H 681 eliminates the statute of limitations for specific serious crimes in Idaho, meaning prosecutors can file charges at any time regardless of when the offense occurred. It directly affects victims and law enforcement by removing time constraints for prosecuting murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape, child sexual abuse (including lewd conduct with children), production of child sexual exploitation material, and terrorism. The bill amends Idaho Code Section 19-401 to explicitly state there is no time limit for these offenses. This change applies to all cases involving the listed crimes, allowing for potential prosecution years or decades after the incident.
This Idaho bill (H 680) requires all interviews with alleged child abuse victims - conducted by law enforcement, child welfare agencies, or child advocacy centers - to be recorded with sound and video. It applies to safety assessments, investigative interviews, and risk assessments. The law states that not having such recordings won't prevent evidence from being used in court. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
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 bill allows Idaho county sheriffs to seek reimbursement from the Idaho Department of Correction for costs incurred when traveling out-of-state to recapture escaped prisoners, probationers, or parolees. Sheriffs can submit invoices detailing travel, mileage, personnel, overtime, or other reasonable recapture costs after successfully returning individuals to custody. The Department of Correction must pay these claims within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice and will appropriate annual funds for this purpose. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies directly to county sheriff's offices and the Department of Correction.
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.
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.
