This bill amends Idaho state law to revise the structure, duties, and funding rules for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, a public school-choice program that offers online courses to students. It establishes the Academy as a distinct governmental entity rather than a state department, outlines the responsibilities of its Board of Directors, and sets specific requirements for course offerings, staffing, and accreditation. Key provisions include limiting administrative staff to 30% of the budget, exempting teachers from certain employment classifications, defining course fees with a $40 cap for graduation-required classes, and allowing the Academy to contract with service providers for 24/7 online course delivery. The legislation also clarifies definitions for terms like "host district" and "custom section," while declaring an emergency to ensure immediate implementation of these changes.
This bill modifies Idaho's tax exemptions for data center operations, extending a sales tax exemption for data center equipment and revising property tax rules for capital investments. It requires businesses to invest at least $250 million in data center facilities and create 30 new full-time jobs within specific timeframes to qualify for the exemptions. The legislation also introduces new requirements for companies starting construction on or after April 1, 2026, including electricity rate agreements and water consumption planning with local providers. Businesses that fail to meet these investment and job creation requirements must pay the taxes that would have otherwise been owed.
This bill reduces the state funding for Idaho's Digital Learning Academy by $13.5 million for fiscal year 2027 and adjusts related financial transfers between state funds. The legislation requires the academy to limit course offerings and deny new enrollments if necessary to maintain a positive cash balance, while prohibiting withdrawals from the Public Education Stabilization Fund for this program. Additionally, the bill mandates that the academy verify compliance with state nondiscrimination standards for diversity, equity, and inclusion courses and submit a compliance report by December 2026. The law also requires detailed reporting on course costs, enrollment data, and budget information to the Legislative Services Office by August 2026 to improve transparency in how state funds are used.
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.
This bill amends Idaho's open meetings law to allow the public to record government meetings, including capturing audio, video, or photographs. It applies to all public agency governing bodies except for specific executive sessions and meetings held in correctional facilities or by the pardons and parole commission. The legislation also clarifies that recording cannot be used as a reason to remove or exclude attendees, while still permitting agencies to take reasonable steps to maintain order during meetings. Additionally, the bill permits meetings to be conducted via telecommunications devices like video conferencing, as long as at least one member remains physically present and communications remain audible to the public.
S 1299 (Idaho Code §67-2364) prohibits Idaho state agencies and public entities from requiring digital identification for any government service, benefit, or access. It ensures physical identification remains valid, bans denial of services for refusing digital ID, and prevents agencies from tracking individuals or retaining digital ID data beyond a single transaction. The bill also protects device privacy by prohibiting forced device unlocking and restricting digital ID use to immediate verification only. Violations allow affected residents to seek damages of $500-$2,500 per incident or file lawsuits for service denial.
Idaho's H 750 defines "programmable money" (a digital asset that can be programmed for specific uses) and explicitly excludes it from the legal definition of "money." The bill establishes new rules limiting its use, provides legal remedies for violations, and creates criminal penalties for unauthorized or harmful transactions involving programmable money. It directly affects businesses, financial institutions, and individuals using or issuing programmable money within Idaho. The law aims to clarify legal boundaries and protections for this emerging financial tool while addressing potential risks.
This bill consolidates Idaho's STEM education programs under the Workforce Development Council by repealing the separate Idaho STEM Action Center structure. It transfers responsibilities like computer science education initiatives, STEM funding oversight, and program coordination to the Council. The key change revises references from "STEM Action Center" to "Workforce Development Council" in all relevant laws, streamlining oversight of K-12 computer science programs and STEM education funding.
This Idaho bill establishes the Financial Accountability Stablecoin Transaction (FAST) Act to authorize the state government to use privately issued payment stablecoins for paying vendors and contractors. The legislation defines eligible stablecoins as those backed one-to-one by U.S. dollars or Treasury obligations, meeting specific criteria including at least $2 billion in annual transaction volume and being issued by U.S.-based entities with U.S. citizen founders and shareholders. The state treasurer will maintain an annual list of approved stablecoins and submit reports to the legislature on transaction volumes, cost savings, and fiscal benefits, while vendors may voluntarily choose to receive payments in these digital currencies.
H 742 amends Idaho law to allow electronic motor vehicle records as proof of ownership, reducing the need for paper documents during title transfers. It authorizes Idaho vehicle dealers to directly cancel or remove liens from vehicle titles when loans are paid off, without requiring owners to seek separate assistance. These changes streamline the process for buying and selling vehicles by simplifying lien removal and enabling digital record-keeping.
