LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Week Eight Idaho Legislative Update for March 2 – March 6, 2026
The Idaho House has taken a big step along the path to wrapping up the 2026 legislative session. After an hour of impassioned debate Friday, the chamber voted 48-22 to approve SB 1331, which passed the Senate last week on an 18-17 vote. The FY26 recissions bill mandates an additional 1 percent reduction, on top of the 3 percent holdback from Gov. Little’s Executive Order last fall, creating a total 4 percent cut in the state budget for the current fiscal year that ends June 30th. A deeper cut of 5 percent is coming for FY27, starting July 1, as the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee (JFAC) continues it work.
There is a catch, however. For many agencies, the spending reductions were expected and agencies have already worked through the process with JFAC and Governor’s office. Additionally, SB1331 excludes Health and Welfare’s Medicaid budget, the Department of Corrections, the Idaho State Police, and K-12 public education. While some agencies are feeling the pinch, all the major expense budgets were spared from the FY 2026 cuts. This means the lion’s share of the state’s $5.6 billion General Fund wasn’t actually cut. Still, the recissions bill slashes more than $192 million from FY26, with more than $131 million coming from the General Fund, and eliminates 110 state employee jobs, most of which were vacant or unfilled.
With the recissions bill passed and heading to the Governor for final treatment, here’s what to expect in the next few weeks:
The 10 maintenance/enhancement budgets will be taken up on the floor next week.
FY 2027 Enhancement budgets continue to be hammered out by JFAC. Several were approved by the committee this week.
Longer and more intense floor debates will play out next week on budgets and other policy bills that have piled up on third -reading calendars.
Committee work and House and Senate floor action continue. Hundreds of bills introduced in recent weeks will be ignored as priorities take shape. With the end in sight, albeit weeks away, there will be less time and interest in dealing with pet policy projects or bills guaranteed to jam up the floor with lengthy debates.
It’s unwise to predict Sine Die. What we do know is today’s action in the House set in motion a viable exit strategy.
Much of what transpired in the House today is motivated by the upcoming May 19 primary elections. We talked about this last week, but the desire to wrap things up here in Boise is strong for dozens of House and Senate members eager to begin raising campaign cash and knocking on doors. Last Friday was the deadline to file for the 105 House and Senate seats up for grabs, as well as all statewide executive offices, none of which drew serious challengers. Here are some key takeaways for legislative races:
House Speaker Mike Moyle and Senate Pro Tem Kelly Anthon escaped a primary challenge. Both can now focus on helping re-elect allies in their respective caucuses.
More than half incumbent House Republicans and 13 GOP incumbents in the Senate face primary challenges. A handful of those races involve more than one challenger.
Incumbent GOP Sen. Cody Galloway stunned politicos this week by withdrawing from the race just days after filing for re-election. Galloway said she was pleased with her work in the Legislature but it was time to focus on other priorities. With a district that includes western portions of Boise, it’s also clear she faced a tough campaign in November given the predicted Democratic enthusiasm heading into the fall.
Not every long serving incumbent is safe. This includes 16-year Republican Rep. Judy Boyle, who is facing a primary challenge in May.
There is a regional dynamic at play. Legislative districts in the Magic Valley, Idaho Falls and north-central Idaho are chock full of competitive races.
So, what else happened under the Rotunda this week? The House and Senate in their own way celebrated “Idaho Day,” which commemorates the creation of the Idaho Territory by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
The Senate Resources and Conservation Committee put on ice a set of rules regulating the use of advanced technology while hunting big game.
House and Senate Judiciary and Rules committees debated controversial bills this week. When the dust settled, both committees killed well-funded and heavily lobbied efforts to force Idaho to join a collection of states calling for a Constitutional Convention allowed under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The so-called “ConCon” is described by some legislators as a “break glass in case of emergency” solution or a “burn the Constitution and start over” approach. Let’s break down what unfolded.
On Monday, the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee voted 5-4 to hold in committee a resolution expressing Idaho’s support for a convention to debate the merits of a federal balanced budget amendment.
On Tuesday, the House Judiciary and Rules Committee, amid another big turnout of Idahoans, followed suit, voting 8-7 to reject a “ConCon” dedicated to discussing term limits for congressional candidates. During discussion, several committee members expressed support for term limits but were clearly queasy about exposing the U.S. Constitution to the risks inherent in a convention.
On Wednesday, the Senate on a voice vote endorsed SJM 112, a resolution that urges Congress to buck up and balance the federal budget without a convention of states.
These social issue proposals tend to jam up committee, sap lawmaker time and energy and foment hostility across the statehouse when the wealthy, out-of-state lobbyists pushing these initiatives fail to get their way.
Next week is shaping up to be another busy one. Monday is the transmittal deadline, which is technically the last day bills can be moved to the opposite chamber. While this rule serves a purpose, it is more of a reminder for lawmakers to get moving, focus on priorities and begin finalizing plans to shut things down for the year.
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 (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)
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- Passed the House (67-0-3) -Senate Resources & Environment
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)
Senate Bills
S1222- Water, domestic use-Passed the Senate (33-0-2) – Passed the House (70-0-0) Signed by the Governor 3/4/26 – Effective 7/1/26
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- Passed the Senate (31-3-1) – House 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 Floor
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- Passed House (Voice Vote) – Passed Senate (Voice Vote) – Delivered to Secretary of State 2/17/26
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 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)
SCR124 - Wildlife Crossing- Senate Floor
This resolution 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. Bernt (R-21)