Immigration

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 5, 2026

H 584: UNAUTHORIZED WORKERS – Adds to existing law to establish certain requirements for employers to verify the lawful status of workers.

Idaho's H 584 requires all employers (including government entities) to verify the legal work status of new hires within three days of employment. Starting July 1, 2026, employers must enroll in the federal E-Verify program to confirm authorization, with acceptable proof including Idaho driver's licenses, state ID cards, or other government-issued documents showing lawful presence. The bill prohibits knowingly employing unauthorized workers and authorizes the Idaho Department of Labor to access state agency records (like DMV data) solely to verify work eligibility, while prohibiting state officials from independently determining immigration status.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates E-Verify for all employers, prohibits hiring unauthorized workers, and enhances state enforcement of immigration status per federal program requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Work Authorization

Track

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 26, 2026

H 764: CONCEALING, HARBORING, AND SHIELDING ALIENS – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the concealing, harboring, and shielding of aliens.

Idaho's H 764 establishes new state law prohibiting organizations (and their officers or agents) from concealing, harboring, or shielding undocumented immigrants within Idaho. It specifically bans actions like providing shelter, financial support, transportation, or legal assistance to immigrants who entered or remain in the U.S. unlawfully, if the organization knows or recklessly disregards this fact. Violations carry penalties including misdemeanor or felony charges (depending on the number of immigrants involved), fines up to $3,000 per offense per immigrant, and potential revocation of business licenses. Exceptions cover law enforcement, medical personnel providing emergency care, and state courts performing official duties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds criminal penalties for harboring undocumented immigrants, expanding criminalization in immigration enforcement per Criminal Offenses and Procedures subjects.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits organizations from providing shelter, financial support, or legal assistance to undocumented immigrants, imposing penalties for 'concealing, harboring, or shielding' them.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

passed · Idaho · House Mar 2, 2026

H 704: UNAUTHORIZED WORKERS – Adds to existing law to establish certain requirements for employers to verify the lawful status of workers.

Idaho's H 704 requires all employers in the state to verify the legal work status of new hires within three days of employment. It mandates enrollment in the federal E-Verify program by July 1, 2026, and prohibits knowingly employing unauthorized workers. Employers must check documents like Idaho driver's licenses, tribal IDs, or federal work permits to confirm lawful presence, with the state using existing agency data (e.g., DMV records) solely for verification. The law explicitly prohibits Idaho from making final immigration determinations, relying instead on federal programs and state-issued IDs as proof of legal status.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates E-Verify, prohibits unauthorized employment, and increases state enforcement of federal immigration rules.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization

Track

signed · Idaho · Senate Mar 30, 2026

S 1260: IMMIGRATION COOPERATION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding illegal entry, to remove provisions regarding illegal entry, and to provide for certain affirmative defenses.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces first illegal entry to misdemeanor, adds asylum/DACA defenses, aligns with reform by limiting criminalization and protecting rights.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationAdds affirmative defenses for DACA/asylum holders, shielding them from state prosecution under immigration enforcement, aligning with 'protect DACA recipients' indicator.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

passed · Idaho · House Mar 9, 2026

H 659: MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding law enforcement entering into a memorandum of agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Idaho's H 659 requires all local law enforcement agencies (including county sheriffs and municipal police departments) to apply for a federal immigration enforcement program called Section 287(g). This program allows trained local officers to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement under federal oversight. If an agency cannot join the program, it must publicly state its reasons and efforts to cooperate with ICE. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, after being approved by the Idaho legislature.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates local law enforcement to join ICE's 287(g) program, requiring cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · Idaho · Senate Feb 16, 2026

S 1289: EDUCATION – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding scholarship limitations for certain student athletes at public institutions of higher education.

This Idaho bill (S 1289) sets limits on scholarships for non-U.S. citizen student athletes at public colleges. It requires public institutions to prioritize Idaho residents for scholarships and restricts non-citizen athletes to: no more than 10% of scholarships (excluding football), 5% for football, and no team exceeding 50% non-citizen scholarship recipients. Existing non-citizen athletes enrolled before the law's effective date (July 1, 2026) are exempt from these caps for up to four years. The law directly affects student athletes and public universities' financial aid policies, with implementation overseen by the Idaho State Board of Education.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts non-citizen athlete scholarships at public colleges, limiting access for international students and prioritizing residents.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts non-U.S. citizen athletes' access to scholarships at public colleges, limiting their educational opportunities as a service.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · Idaho · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 1318: REFUGEES – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding an audit of the resettlement of refugees.

Idaho's S 1318 requires Idaho-incorporated organizations providing refugee resettlement services to submit annual audits to the legislature. The audits must detail specific data, including the number of refugees served, their nationalities and genders, language abilities, housing locations, and health statistics like communicable disease rates. The bill also prohibits these entities from aiding illegal aliens and mandates that any assistance provided to illegal aliens be reported for federal database matching. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, aiming to increase transparency in refugee resettlement programs within Idaho.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits aid to 'illegal aliens,' mandates reporting of assistance to them, and adds restrictive audit requirements for refugee services, aligning with immigration enforcement restrictions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Refugees & Asylum

Track

passed · Idaho · House Mar 19, 2026

H 660: IMMIGRATION STATUS AND NATIONALITY OF ARRESTED INDIVIDUALS – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the immigration status and nationality of arrested individuals.

This Idaho bill (H 660) requires all state and local law enforcement agencies to verify and record the immigration status and nationality of every person they arrest. It mandates that agencies publish biannual reports starting October 1, 2026, detailing immigration status, crime statistics for foreign nationals arrested in Idaho, and reasons for noncompliance. Agencies failing to comply may lose state funding. The law applies directly to police departments, sheriffs' offices, and the Idaho State Police, effective July 1, 2026. It establishes new reporting requirements without changing immigration law.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates law enforcement to verify immigration status during arrests and report data, increasing state enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 17, 2026

H 693: CONCEALING, HARBORING, AND SHIELDING ALIENS – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the concealing, harboring, and shielding of aliens.

This Idaho bill (H 693) creates new criminal penalties for organizations that knowingly help undocumented immigrants avoid detection or provide them shelter, financial support, or transportation. It prohibits businesses, nonprofits, or their leaders from concealing, harboring, or facilitating the illegal presence of undocumented immigrants they know are in the U.S. unlawfully. Violations could result in misdemeanor or felony charges (with felony status for aiding five or more immigrants), plus business license revocation for repeat offenses, while exempting law enforcement and emergency responders acting in their official capacity.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by imposing penalties on organizations aiding undocumented immigrants, increasing criminal liability under immigration enforcement.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationCriminalizes aiding undocumented immigrants with penalties, restricting services and increasing state enforcement against immigrant support networks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

signed · Idaho · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 1293: PUBLIC BENEFITS – Amends existing law to provide that verification of lawful presence is not required to apply for or receive crime victims compensation.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves immigration status barrier for crime victims compensation, expanding access to all victims regardless of immigration status, aligning with criminal justice reform that promotes victim support and equitable access to justice services.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves immigration status verification for crime victims compensation, expanding access to state services for immigrants regardless of legal status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights