The Idaho 2025 legislative session has concluded, with some of the bills and resolutions relating to agriculture recapped here. To access the full details or to learn how your legislators voted, visit the Idaho Legislature website.
HB82 – Livestock Depredation Claims
Changes terminology to make it more consistent with language used by responsible investigators. It also provides a third avenue of payment for those impacted by wolves and grizzly depredation.
Update: Signed by governor
Effective March 19, 2025
HB104 – Building Code Act
Amends existing law to create a single definition for "Agricultural Buildings" across all local jurisdictions.
Update: Signed by governor
Effective July 1, 2025
HB106 – County Fair Boards
Allows county commissioners in counties with populations exceeding 200,000 to designate the county fair board as an advisory body.
Update: Held in Senate, referred to Local Government and Taxation
HB129 – Land Bank Fund
Extending the time that moneys can be held in the land bank fund from five to 10 years.
Update: Held in the Senate
HB148 – Constitutional Defense Council
Outlines the process for Idaho citizens involved in legal proceedings with the federal government concerning grazing or water rights-related issues to request state assistance from the Constitutional Defense Fund.
Update: Awaiting governor signature
HB297 – Labor
Creates a state-based, year-round agricultural guest worker program. Defined agricultural work includes farming, ranching, dairy operations and processing of agricultural products. Eligible individuals must reside in Idaho, have never been refused admission to the country or deported previously, complete a background check and submit fingerprints and verify no prior felony convictions. Employers must also register with the department to employ guest workers. Permitted workers must maintain employment or demonstrate the intention of an employer to hire by a certain date. They are not allowed to drive a motor vehicle on any public roadways. In addition, workers must also pay state and federal income taxes. If a worker is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, they will lose their right to work under this program. This bill does not change federal immigration status, entitle citizenship, provide immunity from federal law, provide driving or voting privileges, or secure access to unemployment compensation.
Update: Held in House Agricultural Affairs
HB304 – Property Tax Relief
Provides $100 million of additional property tax relief every year starting in 2025.
Update: Signed by governor
Effective March 26, 2025
HB445 – Appropriations – Idaho Department of Water Resources
Allocates $30 million for aquifer monitoring and measuring, positions for water administration, ESRI maintenance costs, support for Laserfiche conversion, replacement items and funding for water infrastructure projects. This bill includes language directing the transfer of funds to the Aquifer Planning and Management Fund for aquifer monitoring, reappropriation of federal grant funds and the use of filing fees to the Water Management Fund for water projects.
Update: Signed by governor
SB1016 – Brands
Adjusts statutory fee caps, adds language clarifying the Brand Board's ability and process of regulating fees under the statutory caps, and allows the board to retain interest accrued on the dedicated State Brand Board account.
Update: Signed by governor
Effective July 1, 2025
S1053 – Fences
Clarifies that private landowners are responsible for building and maintaining fences bordering federal land when the private landowner wants to prevent livestock from entering their land from federal land.
Update: Held in House
SJM101 – Water
States findings of the Legislature and recommends studies to identify and construct additional water storage in Idaho, including the possible reconstruction of the Teton Dam.
Update: Reported signed by the speaker and ordered delivered to secretary of state
