H 676 amends Idaho water law to explicitly allow municipalities to secure rights for geothermal water used in heating and cooling systems. It requires municipal applicants to provide detailed documentation on where and how low-temperature geothermal water will be injected back into the ground after use. This update revises application rules and definitions to accommodate geothermal projects while ensuring environmental compliance. The bill passed the Idaho House of Representatives in February 2026 with strong bipartisan support.
H 612 exempts small portable solar generators (under 1,200 watts) from utility regulations in Idaho. Homeowners using these devices won’t need utility approval, pay fees for grid connection, or install extra equipment. The law defines portable solar as certified devices connected via standard outlets to offset household electricity use. It explicitly removes such devices from the definition of "public utility" under Idaho law and clarifies they’re excluded from related rules. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
SCR 120 is a concurrent resolution expressing the Idaho Legislature's support for expanding used nuclear fuel reprocessing research at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). It requests the state work with the federal government to renegotiate the 1995 settlement agreement with the Department of Energy, which limits the amount of used nuclear fuel stored in Idaho, to allow greater processing capacity. The resolution encourages collaboration between state agencies, INL, industry, and academic institutions to develop reprocessing technologies that could convert used fuel into reusable material, while requiring community engagement and adherence to safety standards. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but directs state efforts to advance Idaho's role in nuclear fuel cycle research.
