LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Week Six Idaho Legislative Update for Feb. 16 – Feb. 20, 2026
Let’s start with an overview of where things stand as the sixth week comes to a close. Despite recent deadlines, new policy bills continue to be introduced. At the same time, work in some of the committees has waned, which in turn has led to some quick and uneventful sessions on the floors of the House and Senate.
Budget writers are keeping their heads buried in the details of enhancement requests and places to wring out savings. The Joint Finance Committee tackled the first set of special requests from agencies Friday in a meeting that laid bare the clear ideological fault lines between hardliners and traditionalists on spending (more on this later).
Upstairs on the fourth floor of the Capitol, staff with the Legislative Service Office (LSO) are busy putting in bill form the maintenance budgets adopted by JFAC last week. It’s a lot of work and we offer a shout out here to the LSO team and the heavy lift. But the work they’re doing, arguably more than any other committee in the building right now, will set the tone for the next couple of weeks.
Here’s why. From the onset of this session, the chief goal of leadership was to set the budget and get out of Dodge with enough time to campaign. JFAC leadership deserves kudos for guiding the budgeting process as swiftly as possible. Given all the challenges, it would be a policy and political victory for JFAC if the maintenance budgets hit the floor and are teed up for debate next week in the House and Senate.
This coincides with the election filing deadline next Friday for all 105 legislators and anyone seeking to challenge for their seat. The subsequent chilling effect caused by having to defend a seat will inevitably alter the rest of session, making it even more crucial for House and Senate leadership to get these top priority budgets across the finish line quickly and without pushback.
In other words, things are on track for an early, or at least on time, adjournment. And yet, there will be plenty of opportunities to derail the early escape plan as politics and personalities begin to play a stronger role.
Let’s touch briefly on one of those landmines. As mentioned, there is division on JFAC, and the rift became more evident Friday during debate on whether to approve a $190,000 budget enhancement request to fund educational assistance for members of the Idaho National Guard. The committee voted 11-7 to hold the request in committee, essentially rejecting the Military Division ask. This low dollar request was a tactical and divisive issue that split the working group and set the stage for bigger agency requests in the wake of the mandated 4% FY26 and 5% FY27 cuts JFAC tacked on to the Governor’s 3 percent holdback. The cleverness of the Governor’s staff and agencies appeals for additional resources was ultimately shut down by the committee - just first of more battles to come.
A request for $190,000 to help veterans may seem like “budget dust” given the more than $15 billion that will be appropriated for FY27, but the subtext is rich. Budget hardliners are sending a message that there is no political will to approve money for things not already included in agency maintenance budgets.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out as JFAC considers additional enhancement and supplemental requests. Can hardliners hold the line? Are there some spending priorities too mission critical to reject, like the more than $3 million approved for the Tax Commission Friday? Even more intriguing is how the dynamic between hardliners and those willing to restore some of the 5 percent cuts plays out in the full House and Senate. Stay tuned.
Amid this backdrop, our team continues to play in the budgetary sandbox and look for opportunities. JFAC leadership continues to stress the need to find dollars for the summer wildfire season, SNAP, Medicaid and roads.
On the policy side, we’re working with legislators on both sides of the rotunda on your priorities and initiatives. We expect committees will continue deliberating the dozens of new bills introduced this week – though it’s a safe bet that many of the more controversial new bills will be stuffed into the drawer of committee chairmen or pulled back by the bill sponsor.
Next week promises to be a fun one and we look forward to keeping you informed along the way.
House Bills
H0502 – Forest Products Commission– House Resources and Conservation
The legislation moves the IDAPA Rules of Administrative Procedure for the Idaho Forest Products Commission into Idaho Code. It also makes a series of technical corrections to the commission, officers, and assessments.
Sponsor: Rep Boyle (R-9)
HB511 – Wildfire Property Assessments – House Floor
Calls for an increase from $40 to up to $100 on the surcharge set for improved private forest land parcels. Revenue generated from the surcharge would be deposited in a dedicated fund to support wildfire preparedness. The Land Board would have the authority to set the surcharge. The last rate increase was in 2009.
Sponsor: Boyle (R-9)
HB0565- Code Clean-up, Fish & Game- House Resources and Conservation
To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving the public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H14 in the 2025 legislative session. Submitted sections of Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the DOGE Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. This bill repeals Sections 36-116, 36-715, and 36-1120, Idaho Code. These sections relate to the transition of wolf management to the state and hunting fines. Idaho has been managing wolves for years, and the fines for hunting violations are established in other sections of Idaho Code.
Sponsors: Rep. Manwaring (R-29) Sen. Bjerke (R-5)
H0630- Airborne Control of Predatory Animals- House Agricultural Affairs Committee
This legislation would amend 22-102A, Idaho Code, which provides for the permitting of the use of aircraft in controlling unprotected or predatory animals. The amendments will account for the movement of current administrative rule language into the statute because it is beneficial to have all related requirements related to this matter in a single location in Idaho Code.
Sponsor: Rep. Shirts (R-9)
H0651-Big Game Depredation Claims- House Resources and Conservation Committee
The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all available moneys in the Big Game Depredation Fund are fully and efficiently paid out for valid claims arising from damage caused by big game to private property. This act clarifies claim payment procedures, prioritizes the distribution of available funds to approved claims, and provides mechanisms for proportional payment when claims exceed available balances, ensuring that funds are not unnecessarily left unexpended while landowners and agricultural producers wait for compensation.
Sponsor: Rep. Shirts (R-9)
H0653- Wildlife Relocation- House Resources and Conservation Committee
This legislation increases transparency and public involvement in wildlife transplant and relocation decisions by requiring the Department of Fish and Game to notify county commissioners, affected landowners, and grazing permittees of planned movements. If an affected party objects in writing, the county commission must hold a hearing and vote on the proposal, while emergency “responsive movements” remain unaffected.
Sponsor: Rep. Pickett (R-27)
H0677- Fish and Game- House Resources and Conservation
This legislation deals with sportsman like conduct and makes it unlawful to construct wildlife hunting blinds that are near water sources on public lands.
Sponsor: Rep. Raymond (R-31)
H0678- Trapping- House Resources and Conservation
This legislation is to allow wolf trappers to inspect their trap remotely with transmitting cameras.
Sponsor: Rep. Shepherd (R-7)
House Joint Memorials & Resolutions
HJM 009 – FLPMA Memorial – Passed the House (69-0-1) – Passed the Senate (Voice Vote) – Secretary of State
A joint memorial calling on the U.S. Congress to reaffirm the Federal Land Policy and Management Act as the primary law governing federal land management and exchanges. It’s a response to a recent legal decision in Idaho on a proposed land exchange that threatened the predictability of FLPMA.
Sponsor: Boyle (R-9)
HJR10- State-owned lands- House State Affairs
The purpose of this Joint Resolution is to amend Article IX, Section 8 of the Idaho Constitution to establish an updated framework for managing state endowment and public lands. The amendment replaces the "maximum long-term financial return" mandate with expanded land management practices that prioritize ongoing revenue generation, including but not limited to timber sales, mining, and grazing, followed by public access for recreation, hunting, fishing, and trapping. The amendment continues to allow the sale or exchange of these lands while reducing pressure on the state to sell them solely because of their high value. This resolution preserves all existing options for timber, mining, and grazing, and remains fully compliant with the Idaho Admissions Act without altering the Land Board’s structure or the Endowment’s beneficiaries.
Sponsor: Rep. Raybold (R-34), Rep. Petzke (R-21)
HCR026- Wildlife Crossing- House Floor
This Joint Memorial codifies the need for the Idaho Legislature, Idaho’s Congressional delegation, Idaho’s Governor and the Directors of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho Transportation Department to recognize and support the development and implementation of wildlife crossings as a means of improving public safety and the conservation of big game migration corridors. It is also the intention that the Idaho Legislature encourage state and local governments to engage with local stakeholders to develop policies that align with public safety, big game conservation, preserving and protecting the landscape, connectivity, and critical migration corridors that would serve as priority locations for wildlife crossings ultimately designed to benefit Idaho citizens and it’s abundant wildlife populations.
Sponsor: Rep. Petzke (R-21)
Senate Bills
S1222- Water, domestic use-Senate Resources and Environment Committee
Relating to domestic wells. Last year there was an amendment to this section of code; however, it requires further exceptions to include certain subdivisions.
Sponsor: Senator Anthon (R-27)
S1223- Water districts-enate Resources and Environment Committee
Relating to Water Districts. An update related to who is required to pay for updates. Currently it goes to all water users in that district, and this will update it to allow the water district to bill the user it affects directly.
Sponsor: TBD
S1238- Fish & Game, public comment- Senate Resources and Environment Committee
This legislation amends Idaho Code §36-105, to provide for a 30-day public comment period prior to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission adopting, repealing, or amending any season-setting proclamation.
Sponsor: Sen. Forman (R-6)
S1241- Protection of working animals- Senate Agricultural Affairs
This legislation establishes protections for the lawful use of working animals in commerce and service, preventing state or local governments from adopting more restrictive rules that would effectively prohibit such use. It defines “working animal,” excludes cockfighting and dogfighting, and includes an emergency clause for the law to take effect July 1, 2026.
Sponsor: Sen. Shippy (R-9)
S1326 - Property Rights, Protection – Senate State Affairs
Requires law enforcement to obtain a warrant to enter private property. Creates both civil and criminal penalties. Adds exemptions for a few agriculture-related workers who are operating in their duty.
Sponsor: Sen. Harris (R-35)
Senate Joint Memorials & Resolutions
SJM108- Grazing, depredation claims
Grazing leases or permits on federal land are a valuable property right and can be critical to the success of Idaho ranchers. A rancher should not have their grazing lease or permit be adversely impacted because they submitted a depredation claim regarding their livestock. This Memorial calls upon the federal government to adopt rules to ensure that depredation claims cannot be used as a basis for modifying or revising a federal grazing permit or lease.
Sponsor: Sen. Lakey (R-23)
SJR103- State trust lands- Senate State Affairs
Protecting public lands in Idaho from permanent loss is of vital importance to the identity, culture, and livelihoods of Idahoans. This joint resolution proposes an amendment to Section 8, Article IX of the Idaho Constitution, distinguishing between state endowment lands granted for specific institutional purposes and public lands acquired from the federal government. The state Endowment will be unaffected, ensuring that the Endowment continues to generate revenue for its beneficiaries. Federally managed lands that may be endowed in the future will be placed in a separate, inviolable trust to be preserved for future generations, prohibiting the sale of these lands and allowing exchanges when approved by a two-third vote of the Legislature. These lands will be managed to balance and promote resource utilization, public recreation, scenic values, watershed quality, and wildlife habitat. Revenue from these lands will be applied to the Public Lands Trust Fund, dedicated first to operating and maintaining the land, then to compensating counties, enhancing public access, and supporting primary and secondary public education facilities.
Sponsors: Sen. Adams (R-12) Rep. Redman (R-3)
SJM111-Public Lands- Senate Resources and Environment Committee
This Joint Memorial affirms the importance of Idaho’s public lands and access to them as central to the state’s identity and way of life, warning that selling or transferring these lands could restrict access and create financial burdens for taxpayers. It urges Idaho’s congressional delegation to oppose any efforts to sell or transfer public lands and to support legislation like the Public Lands in Public Hands Act.
Sponsor: Sen. Bernt (R-21)