ADVOCACY

BILLS

Updates on legislation we are monitoring, supporting, or opposing will be updated as bills come in.

MONITORING

HCR 3 | Natural Resources Council |  Passed the House (43-25-2) | Passed the Senate (35-0-0) | Filed with Secretary of State

This is a concurrent resolution to continue the work of the Natural Resources Interim Council, which expired on Nov. 30, 2024. This provides two additional years to study natural resource issues, especially related to water resources.
Sponsor: Rep. Raybould (R-34)

HJM 5 | Lava Ridge, Opposition, HJM | Passed the House | Senate Resources & Environment  

This memorial is directed towards President Trump and congress and asks them to take action to stop the production of the Lava Ridge project. No fiscal impact.
Sponsor: Rep. Clow (R-25)

HJM 6 | Equal Access to Justice Act | Passed the House | Senate Resources & Environment

A Joint Memorial calling on the US House of Representatives and the US Senate to reevaluate the effectiveness of the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) for environmental and resource matters.
Sponsor: Rep. Sauter (R-1)

HCR 8 | Lava Ridge, Opposition, HCR | Passed the House (68-0-2) | Senate Resources & Environment 

Calls upon the Idaho Attorney General and Governor Little to support the Legislature with a demand for a “no build” option regarding the Lava Ridge project. No fiscal impact.
Sponsor: Rep. Clow (R-25)

HB 14 | Idaho Code Cleanup Act | Passed the House (68-0-4) | Passed the Senate (34-0-1) | Signed Into Law

This legislation requires each agency to follow a similar process to the ZBR rulemaking process, which requires each agency to study and delete unnecessary, obsolete, and outdated rules. Agencies must complete a review of their code sections no later than Sept. 1, 2025, and report to the Legislature the codes that fall into one of those three categories. A recommendation must be included in each agency report if it should be removed. It also allows agencies to make recommendations on codes necessary to the public health, safety, and welfare of Idahoans. Agencies can, but are not required, to also include information on unnecessary, obsolete, and outdated code sections that are not in their purview. The Legislature will consider the recommendations during the 2026 regular session.
Sponsor: Rep. Moyle (R-10)

HB 15 | Outfitters and Guides Exception | Passed the House (59-10-1) | Passed the Senate (32-0-3) | Signed Into Law

This further clarifies both public and private post-secondary education institutions are exempt from the Idaho requirement of having a licensed outfitter.
Sponsor: Rep. Raybould (R-34)

HB 48 | Firearm Instruction | Passed the House (65-2-3) | Passed the Senate (35-0-0)

Amends code. This enables retired law enforcement officers to continue to instruct once they are retired and no longer employed by a department. Currently, retired instructors are not legally able to continue teaching firearm safety and instruction on enhanced concealed carry certs. The amendment clarifies that a law enforcement officer active or retired who currently possesses or possessed at the time of retirement the standards and training cert. No fiscal impact.
Sponsor: Rep. Shepherd (R-7)

HB 57 | Nonmotorized Recreation, Passport | Sent back to House Resources & Conservation Committee

Addresses the rising costs of operating, maintaining, and expanding the Idaho state parks and non-motorized trail system. Proposes to increase the current ‘parks passport’ fee of $10, to a ‘parks and trails passport’ fee of $20. Distribution would divert $16 of fee would to the Parks and Recreation fund, and $4 to a new non-motorized recreation fund. Sponsor: Rep. Petzke (R-21)

HB 81 | Recreational Club Limited Liability | Passed the House (59-11-0) | Senate Judiciary and Rules

Encourages the formation of recreational clubs and participation in recreational activities by limiting the liability of volunteers and members from claims of injury from those who participate in activities inherently known to bring risk and danger.
Sponsor: Rep. Shepherd (R-7)

HB 82 | Livestock depredation payments | Passed the House (56-14-0) | Senate Floor

Modifies existing language regarding depredations from grizzlies and wolves, changing the word from ‘validated’ to ‘confirmed’ for alignment with investigator language. Also adds a third avenue of payment for possible depredations where there is evidence suggesting a kill by a predator but not enough to confirm it was from a wolf or grizzly.
Sponsor: Rep. Raymond (R-31)

HB 101 | Abandoned Roads | House Transportation

Modifies existing language regarding blocking or abandonment of roads and public rights of way. Making sure access always remains for access to public lands or waters regardless of the road crossing private land.
Sponsor: Rep. Rasor (R-1)

HB 128 | Muzzleloaders, Sabots | Passed the House (66-4-0) – Senate Resources & Environment

Prevents Fish and Game from prohibiting sabots used during a muzzleloader-only season.
Sponsor: Rep. Mendive (R-5)

HB 129 | Land Bank Fund Proceeds | Passed the House (47-21-2) | Senate Resources & Environment

Allows funds from a sale of State Endowment Lands to be held in the land bank fund for up to 10 years instead of five.
Sponsor: Rep. Rubel (R-18)

HJM 4 | Grizzly Bear Delisting | Passed the House | Senate Resources & Environment  

The resolution calls upon the Trump Administration and Congress to return the authority of managing the Grizzly Bears back to the states and to remove grizzlies from the ESA list.
Sponsor: Rep. Raymond (R-31)

HB 191 | Water resource board, term limits | House Resources and Conservation

This piece of legislation limits Water Board members’ service from four four-year terms to two four-year terms.
Sponsor: Rep. Horman (R-32)

HB 192 | Deer and elk tags | House Resources and Conservation

Revises the allocation of nonresident deer and elk tags, outfitted tags, and tags available to the public. Additionally, establishes a structured allocation system for tags in general and controlled hunts. Tag use history is explained along with requirements regarding big game tag usage in allocated outfitted hunts.
Sponsor: Rep. Boyle (R-9)

HB 196 | Mule Deer Doe Moratorium | House Resources and Conservation

Establishes a moratorium for mule deer doe hunting within certain management units due to reduced population, low survival rates and reduced success rates of hunters. An exception to hunt will be made if chronic wasting disease is found within the unit.
Sponsor: Rep. Tanner (R-14)

HB 226 | Abandoned Mine Fund | Passed the House (65-0-5) | Senate Floor

Introduced legislation that provides additional money from the Idaho Mine License Tax for the use in the Abandoned Mine Land Fund and also provides for voluntary contributions to the fund. Requires the Idaho Department of Lands to prioritize abandoned mine sites and do annual reporting on how funds were expended and progress made. Last, requires the formation of an advisory committee charged with giving guidance to IDL on priorities of eligible reclamation sites.
Sponsor: Rep. Manwaring (R-29)

HB 232 | Fish and Game, Deer, Elk Tags | House Resources and Environment

Amends and repeals the code dealing with nonresident hunting. All hunts to be capped at 10 percent nonresident participation starting in 2027, outlines the authorization of the sale of all tags, and adds guidelines for minors and military. Seeks to deregulate the outfitting industry by ending the allocation of elk and deer tags and providing a market opportunity to tag buyers who opt in.
Sponsor: Rep. Petzke (R-21)

HB 262 | Nonresident Outfitter Tags | House Resources and Conservation

Revises the allocation of nonresident deer and elk tags, ensuring that ~25% of issued tags be allocated to licensed outfitters. Additionally, requires an allocation recalculation every two years to review historical trends and make necessary adjustments.
Sponsor: Rep. Boyle (R-9)

HB 272 | Second Amendment Financial Privacy | House State Affairs

Adds “financial institutions” to statute, not just “payment networks” that prohibit credit card processors to assign unique credit card codes for weapons and ammunition purchases. Ensuring that the government will not be able to track purchase history for both credit and debit cards and protecting the second amendment.
Sponsor: Rep. Hill (R-14)

HB 302 | Wildlife Relocation | House Resources and Conservation

Ensures transparency and public participation in the process of transplanting and relocating wildlife. Requiring the director of the Department of Fish & Game to notify relevant county commissioners, landowners, and public grazing permit holders 30 days prior to the relocation. If any rejection is received within 10 days, a public hearing would be held for a vote. Adds wolves to the list of species that are tracked by collaring will be tested for communicable diseases. This replaced HB 195.
Sponsor: Rep. Pickett (R-27)

HB 334 | ESPA Recharge Goal | House Floor 

Amends Idaho Code to adjust the annual recharge goal for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) from 240,000 acre-feet to 350,000 acre-feet. This replaces HB 193.
Sponsor: Rep. Mickelsen (R-32)   

S 1003 | Fish and Game Fines | Passed the Senate (25-10-0) | Passed the House (34-30) | Sent to the Governor

This bill updates the section of code related to fines with the Department of Fish and Game to state if an individual has outstanding fines, judgements of reimbursement, or restitution then they are not eligible for a fishing, hunting, or trapping license, tag, or permit. The bill also states lifetime licenses cannot apply for a license until all fines are paid in full. This does not apply to those who have an approved payment plan, unless they are 90 days past due on payments.
Sponsor: Sen. Foreman (R-6)

S 1011 | Winter Feeding Advisory Committees | Passed the Senate (33-0-2) | House Resources & Conservation

Requires Fish and Game to have at least one agricultural producer sitting on each of the Winter Feeding Advisory Committees that exist, as vacant seats will be filled after July 1, 2025. There are seven Fish and Game districts, but not each district has a committee. Each committee member should be a member of the district.
Sponsor: Sen. Harris (R-35)

S 1012 | Depredating Wildlife Appeals Board | Passed the Senate (34-0-1) | Passed the House (65-3-2) | Sent to the Governor

Currently, the US Fish & Wildlife Service confirms if a grizzly bear, black bear, mountain lion, or wolves is responsible for the death of livestock to determine damage compensation. This bill creates a Wildlife Appeals Board in the Office of the Governor to allow an individual to appeal the decision of the US Wildlife Service if results could not be confirmed. The Board would include a designee from Fish and Game, Department of Agriculture, and a large animal veterinarian. The Office of Species and Conservation would receive the request for appeal to coordinate with the Board. The board will consider the evidence presented and make a ruling that will be considered final.
Sponsors: Sen. Burtenshaw (R-), Rep. Boyle (R-9)

S 1013 | Trapper Education | Passed the Senate (35-0-0) | Passed the House (68-0-2) | Sent to the Governor 

Requires anyone who did not possess a trapping license prior to July 1, 2011, as ineligible for a trapping license unless the individual has completed trapper education administered by Fish and Game or an equivalent certification by an authorized\ agency or association. A trapper is not required to have a trapping license as long as the trapper is under supervision by a licensed trapping outfitter that has been certified in trapper education for the species being trapped. This bill also updates the standards of education programs to include species identification, first aid, and laws surrounding trespassing and tampering with personal property.
Sponsors: Sen. Harris (R-35), Rep. Boyle (R-9)

S 1027aaS | Relating to the Transparency in Financial Services Act | Passed the Senate (32-2-1) | House Resources & Conservation 

Prohibits large financial institutions from discrimination based on political or religious views. Institutions would be prohibited from using ‘social credit score’ or nonfinancial criteria for offering a financial service, which could include the manufacturing, distribution, or retail of firearms, knives, and ammunition.
Sponsor: Sen. Anthon (R-27)

S 1062 | Commercial Land Use | Passed the Senate (23-12) | House Resources & Conservation

Clarifies aspects of leases, permits, or other types of land use for commercial purposes. This includes: (1) For any agreements on state land, the Land Board must notify the respective county commissioners when an agreement is executed on state land in their jurisdiction. (2) Requires compliance by the signatory for applicable planning or zoning ordinances. (3) Revenue generated from these agreements for commercial purposes are not exempt from public disclosure.
Sponsor: Sen. Burtenshaw (R-31)

S 1078 | Agency Director Appointments | Senate State Affairs

Adds the Directors of Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and Idaho Department of Corrections to the list of Directors and other cabinet-level agencies that need to be appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. The Director of Lands will be appointed by the Idaho Land Board and approved by the Senate every four years.
Sponsor: Sen. Okuniewicz (R-3)

S 1085 | Off-Highway Vehicle Fee Increase | Senate Resources & Environment

Increases the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) sticker fee to $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents to provide additional funds to support the OHW trail program, law enforcement, and other related initiatives.
Sponsor: Sen. Harris (R-35)

S 1086 | Trespassing on Lands | Passed the Senate (18-16-1) | House Resources & Conservation

When a government entity or landowner gives permission to an individual to enter land for recreational purposes and imposes closures, regulations, or restrictions with notice, then that individual is required to follow the notice. If the individual violates these regulations or closures, then they will be considered trespassing and can be subject to trespassing laws.
Sponsor: Sen. Harris (R-35)

SJM 101 | Water Storage Solutions | Passed the Senate | House Resources & Conservation

A joint memorial urging federal and state agencies to further look at solutions for water storage in Idaho. Some of these solutions could include the reconstruction of Teton Dam, studies on other river basins,
Sponsor: Sen. Cook (R-32)