This law directs the state to move money from interest earnings into two specific funds: one for strategic initiatives and another for local highway districts. The transfer involves 50% of the interest earned between 2024 and 2026, or a fixed amount of $32,877,300 if that figure is higher, with the money split so that 60% goes to strategic programs and 40% supports local roads. The funds are scheduled for distribution during the fiscal year running from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. An emergency clause was included to ensure the law takes effect immediately upon the governor's approval.
Idaho bill H 508 amends highway laws to clarify when bicycle and pedestrian facilities can be included in road projects. The bill specifies that such improvements may only be added as a secondary benefit to projects primarily designed for motor vehicles, or when funded by federal grants, or to enhance safety near schools/parks. It also requires highway projects to maintain minimum 50-foot right-of-way widths and prohibits reducing non-residential road widths except for federal requirements. These changes affect state transportation planning and project design under Idaho Code sections 40-605 and 40-117.
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 updates Idaho's Transportation Support Program to clarify which costs school districts and transportation providers can claim for reimbursement when moving students to and from school. It defines allowable expenses such as vehicle maintenance, driver salaries, and contracted transportation services, while excluding costs for optional vehicle features not essential for safety or disability transport. The state will typically cover 50% of reimbursable costs, with higher reimbursement rates for training, fees, and bus maintenance, and includes a cap based on statewide average costs per mile or per student rider. The law also extends reimbursement eligibility to home-based public virtual schools for internet, equipment, and face-to-face visit costs, and establishes specific criteria for hardship bus runs that may qualify for higher reimbursement limits.
H 665 revises Idaho's Appaloosa license plate program by adjusting fees and directing funds. It requires a $35 initial fee and $25 annual renewal fee for these special plates, with $10 from each fee going to the state highway account and $25 (initial) or $15 (renewal) transferred to the Appaloosa horse club foundation. The funds must exclusively support youth horse programs and horse-related education in Idaho. This bill affects vehicle owners who choose Appaloosa plates, which are available for most registered vehicles (excluding heavy trucks over 26,000 pounds). The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
This Idaho bill amends reckless driving laws to clarify specific dangerous driving scenarios: it adds penalties for exceeding speed limits by 20+ mph in school/construction zones and for passing when sight distance is restricted. It also creates "inattentive driving" as a separate, lesser offense (max $300 fine or 90 days jail) for less severe cases, while maintaining stricter penalties for true reckless driving (up to $2,000 fine or 1 year jail for repeat offenses within 5 years). The bill directly affects drivers who commit these specific violations, particularly repeat offenders. The changes aim to better categorize driving behaviors and adjust penalties accordingly, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.
This Idaho bill (S 1224) amends traffic laws for slow-moving vehicles like farm tractors, construction equipment, and farm machinery. It requires these vehicles to have rear emblems, headlights during nighttime hours (30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise), and prohibits operation above 25 mph unless designed for higher speeds. The bill also adds an exception for emergency/snow removal vehicles during public safety operations and clarifies when drivers must pull over on two-lane highways when three or more vehicles follow a slow-moving vehicle. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
This bill revises Idaho's sales tax rebate program for developers of retail complexes. It allows developers to receive a 60% rebate on sales taxes collected by qualified retailers within their complex, provided the developer spent at least $4 million on approved transportation improvements (like highway projects costing over $5 million). The rebate is paid from a new "demonstration pilot project fund" and capped at $35 million per transportation project. This directly affects developers building retail complexes who make qualifying transportation investments, not the retailers or general consumers.
S 1325 establishes a new special license plate option in Idaho featuring white and black design. It creates a specific fee structure: a $70 initial fee and $50 annual fee for owners who choose this plate, with funds going to the state highway account to cover administration costs. This bill directly affects vehicle owners who select this special plate design, adding it as an optional choice alongside existing special plates. The legislation amends Idaho Code to include this new plate program under section 49-417G.
This bill revises how Idaho distributes transportation funding from the Highway Distribution Account. It gradually increases the share going to local governments (from 38% to 40% by 2025) while increasing the state highway account share (from 57% to 60%), and eliminates the law enforcement account's allocation. Crucially, it removes a restriction preventing fuel tax revenues (including fees from electric/hybrid vehicles) from being used for highway funding. These changes adjust existing fund distribution formulas without creating new taxes or programs.
