This bill amends Idaho law to revise how Community Infrastructure Districts can be formed, allowing cities and counties to create special zones for planning infrastructure before development begins. The key provision requires that any district be approved by local government bodies and must follow existing land use planning rules, while also specifying that only publicly owned infrastructure can be financed through these districts. The legislation creates a legal framework for advance payment of development impact fees and provides additional financing tools to help new growth pay for itself more quickly.
This bill appropriates funding for the Idaho Transportation Department for fiscal year 2027, covering personnel costs, operating expenses, and capital projects across transportation services, motor vehicle programs, and highway operations. It authorizes the department to use unspent funds from the previous fiscal year for specific purposes like airport development grants, construction contracts, and right-of-way acquisitions, with a reappropriation limit of $300 million for construction and acquisition activities. The legislation also allows for corrections of accounting errors from prior years and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, when the funding becomes available for use.
H 629 (Idaho House Bill 629) amends Idaho law to allow electronic vehicle registration, directly affecting all Idaho vehicle owners and the Idaho Department of Transportation. The bill revises Section 49-202 to update procedures for replacing physical registration and amends Section 49-427 to explicitly permit an electronic registration format. This change eliminates the need for physical registration stickers by enabling electronic verification, while maintaining existing fee structures for services like duplicate registration copies. The bill passed the Idaho House 43-26 and is now moving to the Senate.
This bill appropriates $35,400 from the Public Utilities Commission Fund to provide additional funding for the Public Utilities Commission's capital outlay expenses during fiscal year 2027. The money is designated for the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and is intended to support the commission's infrastructure and operational investments. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to ensure the funds take effect immediately on July 1, 2026. This measure directly affects the Public Utilities Commission by increasing its available budget for capital projects during the specified fiscal year.
H 664 would remove a lower speed limit for large trucks in Idaho. Currently, trucks with five or more axles and a gross weight over 26,000 pounds must travel 10 miles per hour slower than other vehicles on most roads. The bill changes the law so these trucks can travel at the same speed limits as passenger cars and smaller trucks, without the 10 mph reduction. This change would take effect on July 1, 2026.
Idaho's S 1340 amends traffic laws to require drivers on multilane highways to use the right-hand lane unless passing, preparing for a left turn, or overtaking slower vehicles. It specifically prohibits driving in the left lane when not passing, and mandates that vehicles moving slower than normal traffic must stay in the right lane to avoid impeding faster vehicles. Violations - including driving slowly in the left lane - carry a $75 fine under amended sections 49-630 and 49-655 of the Idaho Code. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and includes signage requirements to inform drivers.
