LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Week Seven Idaho Legislative Update for Feb. 23 – Feb. 27, 2026

It’s impossible to overstate the importance and impact of today’s deadline for candidates to declare their intention to campaign for a seat in the Idaho House and Senate. For all 105 legislators, the threat of a primary challenge has loomed for the last seven weeks, influencing votes, the introduction of legislation and setting of budgets.

As the deadline arrives today Friday Feb. 27, at 5:00 p.m. MST, incumbents and challengers are racing to file papers and pay the $30 fee with the Secretary of State. By midday Friday, a third of the Senate and a third of House members will be heading home contemplating a competitive primary election in May. There is little doubt the number of competitive primaries will increase before the filing deadline. Anyone interested in taking a look at the slate of legislative candidates can visit VoteIdaho and select State Legislature with the search filter tool.  We will report on this more as the primary season unfolds and races are finalized, but it’s worth noting there will competitive primaries and the vast majority of races, especially for Republicans, will be decided by primary voters on May 19.

It remains to be seen exactly how the deadline influences the next few weeks in the Statehouse. Those facing a viable challenge to defend their seat will have a sense of urgency to get home to campaign. Many of them may be far more cordial and kinder to fellow legislators in the final weeks. Those free of a primary challenge may see an opportunity to pass more tax relief, cut deeper into agency budgets, or pursue passion projects and social issues to weaken their counterparts. The push and pull of these competing interests will play a big role for setting the tone and agenda over the next few weeks.

While social issue bills in an election year are nothing new, the versions we’re seeing this year are aggressive. Everything is on the table, including a variety of initiatives that will clearly struggle to pass constitutional muster. Legislation to preempt local government, curb HOA’s, alter election process, or reign in law enforcement were introduced this week along with a slew of housing bills, and more.

Despite the slow start and the deadline for introducing legislation, lawmakers have made up ground on the amount of bills introduced in the last two weeks. It’s wild to see the new legislation popping up on agendas on both sides of the building. The House Ways and Means Committee, often referred to as “the Speakers Committee,” is in full swing, giving the green light to dozens of new policy ideas this week alone. The onslaught will likely carry into next week as legislators facing a primary try to bolster their resumes for voters back home.

Turning to agency budgets, another series of interesting votes played out in JFAC Friday morning. The committee, divided along those undaunted by shrinking government and those who believe some programs merit saving, failed for the second time to agree on spending plans for the Military Division. Budget writers also stalled on a proposed $142 million budget for the Division of Public Health within the Department of Health and Welfare. The hangup revolved cutting spending for a single program.

This simply means more work and tension for JFAC working groups already using every spare minute to hash through details and find some semblance of agreement on agency budgets and enhancement requests. Much of the politicking going on is speculative as JFAC approves budgets capable of passing the full House and Senate. 

Budget writers managed to find some consensus Friday. The committee approved and will move along the $173 million budget for the Department of Fish and Game, a $56 million package for the Tax Commission and a $51 million budget for the Office of Information Technology Services. More agency budgets are being teed up for JFAC next week.

The co-chairs of JFAC also presented language Friday to compel the State Controller and Treasurer to spend time and money to complete accurate cash account balance and reconciliation of the state’s various accounts. This routine process has been a politically charged challenge for the last two years with the introduction of LUMA, the state’s IT business platform championed by the State Controller. The State treasurer has so far, not been able or willing to reconcile the states accounts with the controllers’ expenditures. The language approved specifically asks for the accounting system to reconcile bank statements dating back to July 1, 2023, forcing the parties to balance the state’s checkbook and have a “to the penny” accounting.

Budget analysts cautioned that the state’s various checking accounts are healthy, but the inability for staff to conduct the monthly reconciliation is merely a foible of the State Treasurer unwilling to partner with the Controller and the LUMA system, which is now humming after a series of rollout and integration glitches.  

The end of the 2026 Legislature will come into a sharper focus next week, but it’s safe to say there will be plenty of time to achieve our goals. There will be opportunities to enlist committee chairs to use their privilege to introduce and move legislation. We will also be focused on the budget battles ahead and looking for opportunities in the fine print. Stay tuned. Things are about to get more intense and interesting, and we are here to help.

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- Passed the House Floor (60-8-2) – Senate Agricultural Affairs
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)

H0652- Hunting State Sport - House Floor (63-0-2) - Senate State Affairs  
This legislation allows Idaho to join a growing trend across the country in declaring a state sport. Whereas Hunting is a bastion of the history and culture of Idaho, both as a source of sustenance and recreation, the state sport of Idaho shall be Hunting. 
Sponsor: Rep Hall/Rep Stone (R-25) 

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 Floor
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 Floor
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, Adopted
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 Floor 
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 Floor 
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)