This bill allocates $880,000 in state funds to the Idaho Office of the Attorney General for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The money is specifically designated for personnel costs within two programs: State Legal Services and Internet Crimes Against Children. These funds are drawn from the Consumer Protection Fund, which is intended to support the Attorney General's legal duties and activities. The legislation also declares an emergency to ensure the money for fiscal year 2026 becomes available immediately upon signing.
This bill adjusts funding for Idaho's Division of Student Support for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, allocating $11.9 million from specific funds while reducing overall appropriations by nearly $10 million. The legislation lowers per-student funding for fully virtual schools, cuts $7.5 million in transportation reimbursements, and requires schools offering online classes to report enrollment and attendance data. It also modifies how English learner funds are distributed, establishes new requirements for technology education programs, and mandates a report on special education spending.
Idaho's H 542, the "Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act," targets major social media platforms (those earning $1+ billion in global ad revenue) operating in Idaho. It directly affects children under 16 by restricting platforms' use of specific "addictive interface features" like infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, and profile-based feeds. The law triggers two usage-based restrictions: after 25 cumulative hours in six months, platforms must notify parents; after 50 hours, they must disable addictive features for minors. The bill defines key terms and establishes enforcement mechanisms, focusing on protecting Idaho children's online experiences without banning social media use.
This bill amends Idaho law to update the powers and duties of the Office of Information Technology Services, giving it greater authority to control and coordinate IT equipment purchases across state government departments. The legislation requires the office to conduct technical and financial analyses before approving IT acquisitions, allows for third-party broker assistance under specific ethical guidelines, and exempts smaller purchases under $15,000 from certain procurement rules. Key provisions include mandatory cybersecurity measures like multi-factor authentication for all state systems, requirements for criminal background checks on IT staff in specific roles, and directives to implement cybersecurity training and best practices across all state agencies. The bill also establishes the office's role in overseeing cybersecurity policies, managing federal IT funds, and coordinating public outreach efforts to protect personal information from cyber threats.
This bill appropriates $980,000 from the Consumer Protection Fund to the Idaho Office of the Attorney General for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funds are designated for two specific programs: $910,000 for State Legal Services and $70,000 for Internet Crimes Against Children initiatives. The legislation directs that these monies be used for personnel costs related to the Attorney General's duties under Idaho law. An emergency clause is included to allow immediate implementation of the funding for fiscal year 2026 upon passage.
