Week 8: Idaho Legislative Session – The Final Stretch

State of Play

We’re now about two-thirds of the way through the 2025 Idaho Legislative Session, and things are moving quickly. Bills are often advancing through committees and floor debates at a fast clip.

The Idaho Association of Counties remains fully engaged, advocating for all five IAC legislative priorities alongside several policies. With crossover deadlines looming (Monday, March 3rd is the target for bills to be transmitted to the other legislative body), IAC is working hard to ensure that our priorities are considered and passed.

Current State of Play

Here is a brief overview of how we are doing so far. Be sure to check out the IAC Bill Tracker for a more detailed view of each bill listed below.

IAC Legislative Priorities

Public Notices: 

– H0166 | Publish Notices on SCO Website – Passed the House; awaiting a hearing in Senate State Affairs.

– H0267 | BOCC Publication Synopsis Requirement Repealed – Introduced and routed to House Local Government Committee.

Consolidated Elections:

– H0278 | Aligns Dates and Deadlines – House 3rd Reading Calendar, could be debated on floor today.

Tourism Tax:

– Local Option Tax on Lodging to Aid Public Safety – Working with bill sponsor toward introduction.

Bidding & Procurement:

– Lowest Responsible Bidder – RS’d but have reached an impasse with the Association of General Contractors- Not likely to receive an introduction this session.

– S1118 | Procurement Thresholds – Senate 3rd Reading Calendar, likely to be debated on the floor today

Public Defense Reform:

– Ongoing Discussions – Seth Grigg has been working with legislators and the governor’s office on this issue throughout the session. He will continue to work on it until a resolution is reached.

IAC Policy Initiatives

– H0314 | Youth Vape Prevention –Three cent tax on vape products by volume. Twenty-Five percent of the tax would go to Health Districts, distributed equally to be used for Youth Vape Prevention and smoking cessation programs. 

– H0244 | Electronic Smoking Devices – Creates a red list of illicit vape products not allowed to be sold in Idaho (using an FDA list). Seventy-five percent of vape tax would go towards enforcing vape tax registry. 

– H0130 | Hospital Property Tax Exemption – Grants BOCC more flexibility to approve non-profit hospital property tax exemption.

– H0206 | EMS – Moves EMS Bureau to Military Division and provides more flexibility regarding use of EMS grant funds.

– H0207 | EMS Trailer – Code clean-up relate to H0206.

– S1101 | Coroner Duties, Definitions, Standards – Standardizes coroner responsibilities and education requirements.

– H0143 | Solid Waste Disposal Responsibility – Clarifies definition of flow control.

IAC Legislative Committee Positions

In addition to advocating for IAC’s priorities and policies, the IAC Legislative Committee has taken positions of support or opposition on several bills.

Support 

– H086 | Building Code – Updates Idaho’s building code regulations to align with modern safety standards. 

– H185 | Search and Rescue Fund – Provides additional funding for county search and rescue operations. 

– H253 | Public Records – Enhances transparency by refining public records access and exemptions. 

– H261 | County Jails – Adjusts funding mechanisms and operational policies for county jail facilities. 

– S1083 | Domestic Water Use – Clarifies legal definitions and use rights for small domestic water systems. 

– S1089 | Waste Tire Disposal – Establishes a pilot program to aid in the clean-up of illegally dumped tires, including proper disposal and recycling of waste tires. 

– S1121 | Funeral Home Employee Exception – Allows an exception for funeral home employees to work as deputy coroners.

– S1125 | Constitutional Defense Council – Provides funding and legal resources for local governments if they are sued on constitutional issues due to laws enacted by state legislature (for example, last year’s library bill).

– S1135 | Public Records Disclosure Exemption – Adds specific exemptions to protect sensitive coroner records related to death investigations. An exception could be made with consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Oppose 

– H101 | Rights-of-Way – Modifies regulations on public and private rights-of-way, creating conflicts with county management. Did not pass out of House Transportation and Defense Committee.

– H104 | Ag Buildings – Expands exemptions for agricultural buildings, reducing county oversight. 

– H106 | County Fair Boards – Alters governance structures of county fair boards, reducing local control.  Held in Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee.

– H126 | Criminal History Records – Imposes restrictions on accessing and using criminal history records. 

– H180 | Broadband Infrastructure – Changes funding mechanisms for broadband projects, potentially disadvantaging counties. 

– S1112 | Solid Waste Disposal-No Flow Control – Limits counties’ ability to regulate waste disposal practices. A stakeholder meeting was held last week to come to an agreement that would negate the need for legislation on flow control.

What’s Next

As the session heads into its final weeks, the IAC policy team and legislative committee will continue working with legislators to refine language, advocate for county priorities, and ensure that counties have a voice in the policymaking process. Expect rapid developments in the coming days as key bills move toward the finish line. It is critical that county officials remain engaged and focused. Success in these efforts requires the active participation of all county leaders—your involvement makes a difference. Together, we can ensure that county priorities are heard and addressed. Stay informed, stay involved, and let’s finish strong.