Legislative Updates - Week Seven
Senator Mark Harris, LD35
I would like to congratulate the Bear Lake High school girls’ basketball team for their well-earned state championship title. They did an amazing job!
The Short-Term Rental (STR) issue came to a head this week in the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee. Efforts to reach a compromise before the hearing date on the two bills fell short, but not from lack of trying. I facilitated three meetings between the sponsors of the legislation as well as lobbyists from the different parties. No agreement could be made. On Thursday, both Senate Bill 1263 (S 1263) and House Bill 583 (H 583) were up for a hearing at the same time per direction of the Committee Chair Dan Forman (LD-6). After about an hour of testimony, the committee voted to hold S 1263 in committee and voted to send
H 583 to the Senate Floor for debate. House Bill 583 removes most local authority over STRs, treats all STRs the same as residences, regardless of size, and prohibits registration and bans cities and counties from collecting contact information. House Bill 583 also prohibits business licensing and occupancy and duration numbers. We will see how the bill fares when it comes up for a vote on the Senate Floor in the next couple of weeks.
An E-Verify bill, Senate Bill 1247 (S 1247), passed the Senate this past week and is now in the House waiting for a hearing. S 1247, called the Idaho E-Verify Act, requires all state and local government agencies, as well as large private contractors to use the federal E-Verify system to verify employment eligibility of new hires. This would create a uniform verification standard across all Idaho public agencies. It would also leverage existing federal E-Verify infrastructure rather than create a new state bureaucracy. I am skeptical that the House will hear the bill since they have drafted their own bill that is much more strenuous. House Bill 704 (H 704) requires all employers to use E-Verify. This means all employers from the largest to the smallest, including the kid that gets hired to mow lawns would have to be E- Verified. Federal requirements include I-9s and 13-page MOUs for every employee along with federal requirements of signage, training and notification requirements. We will see soon if this bill passes the House.
One other bill that was introduced this week is Senate Bill 1340 (S 1340) that requires vehicles to be driven on the right-hand side of multilane highways with some exceptions and certain circumstances. The purpose of this legislation is to enhance roadway safety and optimize traffic flow. The bill states “no vehicle traveling in the left- hand lane shall be driven at a speed slower than any vehicle traveling to its right on the same roadway.” Some of the exceptions include preparing for a left hand turn into an intersection or private driveway when the road is congested, or when no one else is around. This idea was brought to me by constituents concerned about road safety and problems trying to pass on the right-hand side of the road. We will see how far this bill goes in the Legislature.
Representative Josh Wheeler
Week six brought meaningful progress on several fronts, particularly in the healthcare space.
First, my bill regarding epinephrine dosing made it to the Senate floor this week. I’m grateful for the thoughtful discussion it has received and remain hopeful it will continue moving forward. Ensuring that students have safe, appropriate emergency response protocols in place is a straightforward but important step.
In addition, both of my bills dealing with prior authorization reform and continuing to incentivize medical preceptorships advanced through the legislative process this week. I’ve been encouraged by the quality of debate and the seriousness of the conversations in that space. There is real recognition that Idaho must reduce administrative burdens where possible while maintaining quality safeguards, and that strengthening our medical workforce pipeline—especially in rural communities—is essential to long-term stability in healthcare delivery.
Earlier this week, I also had a learning experience in my role as Vice Chairman of the Business Committee when we encountered a disruptive testifier. Managing hearings requires both firmness and fairness, and moments like that remind me how important it is to maintain order while still respecting the public’s first amendment right to be heard. Every week brings opportunities to grow in that responsibility.
On the regulatory reform front, I was excited to see my MEP inspection shot clock bill move unanimously out of the Business Committee. This proposal is aimed at streamlining inspection timelines and bringing greater predictability to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing projects. It’s a practical step toward reducing unnecessary delays while maintaining safety standards.
Budget discussions continue to move slowly through the JFAC process. A significant reason for that pace is serious disagreement about across-the-board cuts versus a more strategic approach. Many of us are advocating for thoughtful use of Idaho’s budget stabilization funds to avoid blunt reductions that could unintentionally harm critical services. The goal should be precision—protecting essential programs while keeping our long-term fiscal health strong.
There is an energy in the building this week as filing deadlines approach and candidates determine whether they will have opponents in the May 19th primary. Campaign season always adds a layer of intensity to the Capitol. I would encourage everyone to mark May 19th on your calendar—and bring three friends to vote. Showing up at the ballot box remains the BEST way for your voice to be heard.
Finally, thank you to the many constituents who have reached out in recent weeks. I’ve heard clearly your priorities: smart budgeting, maintaining critical services across the state, protecting foster children, and improving healthcare access in Idaho. Your engagement makes a difference, and it directly informs the work happening here.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve and will continue to keep you updated as the session progresses.
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Josh Wheeler
Idaho State Representative
Representative Mike Veile
I am pleased to be sponsoring, along with Representative Pickett, HB 712 – State Seal of Excellence in Civics. This bill provides for special recognition on a high school graduate’s diploma to honor achievement and excellence in civics education.
Students earning the Seal must demonstrate:
• Focused coursework in civics
• A qualifying GPA
• A score of 90% or higher on the Idaho Civics Assessment
• Completion of a civics-oriented research project
• Documented volunteerism
This Seal offers an additional post-graduation credential that highlights a student’s commitment to civic knowledge and engagement. It reinforces the importance of understanding our government, our history, and the remarkable foundation of our nation. Encouraging civic excellence is one more tool in preparing educated citizens who can become tomorrow’s leaders.
Education Committee Update
We had several contentious bills before the Education Committee this week.
One proposal would have mandated reading from the King James Bible in public schools. I am an uncompromising supporter of the separation of church and state, while also recognizing the moral and historical influence of Christian texts in our nation’s founding. However, mandating Bible reading in public schools would invite immediate legal challenges and ultimately threaten the free exercise of religion. The bill was stopped in committee.
Another proposal sought to require schools to collect students’ immigration status and report aggregate data to the state. I cannot support adding another investigatory responsibility to our school districts. Schools should be focused on educating students — not investigating them. This is not within a school’s lane. I do support law enforcement or government agencies that provide direct financial assistance verifying eligibility as part of their existing processes. But I will continue advocating for reduced regulatory burdens on schools, not increased ones. This proposal was also stopped in committee.
Immigration Legislation on the House Floor
I cast split votes on two immigration-related bills this week.
I supported legislation requiring employers to use E-Verify when hiring employees to ensure they are legally authorized to work in the United States. This adds a clear step in the hiring process to address employment eligibility upfront.
However, I did not support a separate bill that would criminalize employers under certain circumstances. While the bill was intended to align with E-Verify requirements, it raised significant concerns about constitutionality and about holding employers liable if an employee later loses legal status — something outside the employer’s control. In my view, the E-Verify requirement sufficiently addresses concerns about unauthorized hiring without exposing employers to undue legal risk.
Both bills passed the House, though the employer criminalization bill passed very narrowly. They must now pass the Senate and be signed by the Governor before becoming law.
Looking Ahead
Debate is intensifying as we move deeper into the session. The most significant legislation — the state budget bills — has not yet reached the House floor. When those arrive, it will indeed be quite a rodeo.
Stay Tuned!
