AIC Bill TrackerAssociation of Idaho Cities · 2026 Legislative Session

AIC 2026 Legislative Scorecard

How each legislator voted on the bills AIC scored. Only bills that reached a recorded floor vote can score anyone.

Summary Legislation Bill Score Vote Index
51 scored bills
Bill Bill Name Briefer Progress Action Date Votes Vote Rating Comments
H0500 Electric Assisted Bicycles coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/17/2026 2 3 Local Governments support keeping our roads, sidewalks, and trails safe for all and ensuring that all operate under the same rules.
H0508 Bikes, Pedestrian Projects, Federal Monies coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 04/02/2026 2 3 Allowing locals to use federal dollars to support sidewalks, bike lanes and other necessary safety measures for residents is vitally important.
H0537 Open Meetings, Public Comments coming Dead 01/28/2026 0 -5 While many cities and other local governing bodies already provide public comment opportunities and stream or record meetings, requiring public testimony and online streaming or audio for all open meetings would reduce flexibility and efficiency. In addition, many smaller cities and special taxing districts lack the staff, technology, and financial resources to comply with universal streaming requirements, which creates new costs that divert limited resources away from essential public services.
H0557 Antidiscrimination, Local Government coming Dead 02/06/2026 1 -5 Preempting local governments from adopting or enforcing certain ordinances, limits the ability of cities and other local entities to respond to local conditions and community priorities. A one-size-fits-all statewide approach may prevent communities from addressing concerns in ways that reflect local needs, values, and circumstances. AIC will always strongly oppose local preemption.
H0561a Flag Bill coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 04/01/2026 3 -3 Local governments should retain the ability to decide what flags or banners are appropriate for their communities. This legislation creates issues in regulating flags/banners displayed by government entities which unintentionally prohibits banners or flags that are celebratory or promotional displays like for America 250 or for local events and traditions.
H0583 Short Term Rentals Briefer Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/17/2026 2 -5 This legislation strips away local authority to find a balanced approach to property rights within their city. Property rights are extremely important for both those that live in community full-time and those that have investment properties.
H0594 Property Tax Penalties & Interest coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/13/2026 2 5 AIC recommends codifying the Supreme Court decision from last year to ensure counties send the proportional penalties and interest on collected late property taxes to each taxing district.
H0615 Disturbing the Peace, Churches coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/23/2026 2 3 Local governments support protecting worship services from disruption and giving law enforcement clear authority to respond.
H0626 County Impact Fees coming Dead 03/06/2026 1 -5 Local governments support impact fees as a growth pays for growth tool tied to the infrastructure demands of new development. This bill would require cities to collect county impact fees and transfer them to the county with no method to recoup administrative costs, creating an unfunded mandate. It also potentially creates a liability risk if the county is sued and the city has passed an ordinance to collect the fees on their behalf.
H0647 Multifamily Manufactured Homes coming Dead 02/13/2026 0 -5 Cities support expanding housing options, including manufactured homes, when they align with local plans and neighborhood standards. But allowing multifamily manufactured units to be placed in single family zones is a major land use change that should remain a local decision based on infrastructure, parking, traffic, and compatibility. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THE PROPOSED HOUSING BILLS ACTUALLY REQUIRE DEED RESTRICTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE/ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
H0658 Cemetery Districts coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/26/2026 2 3 This is great legislation that remedies a current situation where a cemetery district's commissioners all resigned and left no one to govern the district.
H0670a Urban Renewal Financing, Withdrawal coming Dead 04/01/2026 1 -5 While meant as a clean-up bill for the fire district urban renewal withdrawal code, this bill gets out in front of 2 pending lawsuits and creates more ambiguity causing greater potential for future lawsuits.
H0676 Geothermal Water, Municipal Use coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/20/2026 2 5 This legislation creates a path forward for municipalities to expand geothermal services for growth needs.
H0686 Employment of Relatives coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/20/2026 2 5 Idaho's smallest cities struggle to hire specialty contractors and staff, due to the reduced size of the work pool. This legislation helps remedy that problem with strong sideboards to prevent abuse.
H0705 Multifamily Housing, Zoning coming Dead 02/17/2026 0 -5 This bill forces approval for housing in commercial zones, broadly limits local standards, and adds litigation risk through a private right of action. AIC strongly opposes it as sweeping preemption that shifts land use decisions away from local elected officials. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THE PROPOSED HOUSING BILLS ACTUALLY REQUIRE DEED RESTRICTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE/ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
H0706 Single Stairways coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 04/02/2026 2 -5 Cities support the safety of our firefighters and other first responders who risk their lives to save ours. This legislation reduces their safety and the safety of those they are working to save.
H0708 HOA's coming Dead 02/17/2026 0 -5 Cities do not want to take on the responsibility of dissolved HOA assets. We don't want to manage clubhouses, pools, and other common areas, nor do those residents want those assets opened to everyone in the city.
H0720 City Elections, Districts coming Dead 03/04/2026 1 -5 Cities with populations of 100,000 or above already elect councilmembers by districts. It works at that level, because they have enough of a population base to pull candidates from. Smaller cities greatly struggle to find candidates already for citywide elections. Some smaller cities have tried to implement districts, but they have ended up having elections where some districts have zero candidates. For example, Burley tried it and unwound it due to those struggles. This bill is very harmful to city elections.
H0725 State Insurance, Cities coming Dead 03/18/2026 1 3 Allowing cities to be added to the state insurance plan would allow some cities to more efficiently use taxpayer funds while still providing health insurance for their staff. It's not a great option for all cities, but where it makes sense, it would be very helpful.
H0749 Annexation coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/23/2026 2 3 A HUGE thank you to Chairwoman Ehardt and others who worked with AIC to fix concerns in a way that would not be harmful to cities.
H0765 Taxing Districts, Boundary, Budgets coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 04/02/2026 2 3 AIC supports the allowance and mechanism for fire and library districts to merge for cost-savings and efficiencies.
H0766 Development Impact Fees coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/30/2026 2 3 AIC supports the allowance and mechanism for fire and library districts to merge for cost-savings and efficiencies.
H0767 Development Impact Fees coming Dead 03/10/2026 1 3 AIC supports adding fire and EMS districts to the definition of governmental entities, for development impact fees.
H0791 Driver's License, Suspension coming Dead 03/02/2026 0 5 Cities are struggling to pay for services, especially emergency services. This bill will help us collect the millions in unpaid infraction fines that exist, helping us with the critical funds needed for these services.
H0800 Manufactured Homes coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/30/2026 2 3 This legislation makes some good updates to Idaho's current manufactured home code, allowing for multifamily manufactured homes to be placed in multifamily zoned areas.
H0801 Development of Religious Land coming Dead 03/03/2026 0 -5 Religious lands are tax exempt and the state/federal requirements to be recognized as a religion are set at a very low bar, making this a very dangerous and harmful proposal. To increase service demands by allowing housing on religious grounds, but removing the ability for the municipality to collect property tax for those new services is a huge problem. Plus, leases, regardless of the 40 years or not, usually have termination clauses and have people default on them all the time.
H0802 Multifamily Dwellings, Commercial Zones coming Dead 03/03/2026 0 -5 This legislation preempts city ordinances, allowing multifamily dwellings in commercial zones by right, and with a cause of action that will be funded with taxpayer dollars. Housing already can and does occur in commercial areas, after public hearings/discussions.
H0804 Highway Districts, City Boundaries coming Dead 03/03/2026 0 -5 AIC drafted a legislative proposal that would allow cities in a single-wide county highway district that are now also located in another county to receive a proportional share of highway fund distributions, based on census recognized population, just like is already done for other cities throughout the state. This legislation does not solve the problem we were looking to address and creates additional, greater problems for municipalities impacted.
H0808 Medical Mandates coming Dead 03/03/2026 0 -5 Some of the provisions in this legislation, as currently written, will create litigious situations for first responders. The language ties their hands on helping citizens who are impaired, whether by substance or medical condition, who refuse help. Their creed requires them to do no harm and leaving someone on the side of the road when they clearly need help does not meet that creed.
H0819 Material Harmful to Minors coming Dead 03/23/2026 0 -5 This bill removes a longstanding metric system used by libraries to assess the safety and proper categories for books. This will hurt libraries who are working hard to meet the demands of residents in their communities.
H0842 Taxing Districts, Budget Limits coming Dead 03/23/2026 1 -5 Local taxing districts are hurting for revenue and need real solutions to solve the problems caused by H389 (passed in 2021). This bill solves the preliminary levy rate problem, but not the revenue needs, and it then also adds two very concerning provisions.
H0896 State Law, Compliance coming Dead 04/02/2026 2 -3 AIC fully supports following all laws and are grateful for the improvements in this bill over H743; however, cities ask that the language on page 2, line-3, "A chairman of a board of county commissioners" be REPLACED with "A county prosecutor", to maintain consistency with other Idaho code. With that amendment, we would be neutral.
H0914 DOPL Rulemaking and Fees coming Dead 03/17/2026 0 -3 AIC has been working with IDABO and other stakeholders to update building codes, but the rules died in House Business. This legislation will hurt those efforts.
H0926 Community Infrastructure Districts coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 04/02/2026 2 3 Cities have this tool and we agree that counties should have access to it, as well.
H0927 Traffic Infractions, Delinquency coming Dead 03/25/2026 1 5 Cities are struggling to pay for services, especially emergency services. This bill will help us collect the millions in unpaid infraction fines that exist, helping us with the critical funds needed for these services.
H0967 Liquor Fund, Distribution coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 04/02/2026 2 -5
HCR022 America250 coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 01/27/2026 0 3 Idaho has the most JustServe Cities in the nation and we love the encouragement for Idaho residents to celebrate America250 with 250,000 acts of service.
HCR026 Wildlife Crossings coming Dead 02/16/2026 0 3 We thank the bill sponsor for recognizing the need for federal, state, and locals to collaborate on transportation safety needs, including wildlife crossings.
HJM014 Water Storage coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/26/2026 0 5 Idaho's water is precious and should be protected for our current and future generation's use. Everyone from the federal to the state to the local level, including individual residents, has a responsibility to help on these goals.
HR020 Political Violence coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 01/26/2026 0 5 Civilization does not and cannot exist without those first 5 letters, "CIVIL". Each of us has a responsibility to engage respectfully and civilly with each other, and we can't continue to tolerate bad behavior.
S1241a Working Animals coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 03/24/2026 2 0 Cities support legitimate working animal uses and want clear, consistent rules that allow for commerce while protecting public safety and neighborhood livability AIC thanks Senator Shippy for working with us to protect city authority for public health and safety.
S1263 Short Term Rentals coming Dead 02/09/2026 0 3 AIC supports protecting private property rights while maintaining basic health and safety standards for short term rentals. This bill is a more workable approach than the House proposal because it preserves core safety requirements and allows licensing for larger operators. AIC supports it as a better balance between statewide consistency and limited local oversight.
S1277 Accessory Dwelling Unit coming Dead 02/12/2026 0 -5 Cities support ADUs as a tool to expand housing options, but they must be planned locally to account for sewer capacity and other infrastructure impacts. This bill forces sweeping statewide standards, requires broad comprehensive plan changes, and adds litigation risk through a private right of action. AIC strongly opposes it as a one size fits all mandate that overrides local planning and strains city systems. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THE PROPOSED HOUSING BILLS ACTUALLY REQUIRE DEED RESTRICTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE/ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
S1278 Religious Housing coming Dead 02/12/2026 0 -5 Local control matters in land use because cities must match growth with roads, water, sewer, and neighborhood realities. This bill mandates approval of qualifying projects on religious land, limits standards like height, setbacks, and parking, and adds major litigation risk through a private right of action. AIC strongly opposes it as sweeping preemption that overrides local planning and shifts land use decisions to the courts. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THE PROPOSED HOUSING BILLS ACTUALLY REQUIRE DEED RESTRICTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE/ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
S1279 Starter Homes coming Dead 02/12/2026 0 -5 Affordable housing is a priority, but it works best when cities can plan growth in step with roads, water, sewer, and neighborhood design. This bill broadly preempts cities, counties, and HOAs by banning minimum lot sizes and limiting setbacks and fees, while forcing comprehensive plan changes statewide. AIC strongly opposes it because the private right of action invites litigation and shifts land use decisions away from local elected officials. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THE PROPOSED HOUSING BILLS ACTUALLY REQUIRE DEED RESTRICTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE/ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
S1280 Twin Homes & Duplexes coming Dead 02/12/2026 0 -5 Housing choices matter, but density decisions like duplexes and twin homes need to be planned locally to match infrastructure and neighborhood design. This bill forces approval in single family zones, broadly limits local standards, and adds litigation risk through a private right of action. AIC strongly opposes it as sweeping preemption that shifts land use decisions away from local elected officials. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THE PROPOSED HOUSING BILLS ACTUALLY REQUIRE DEED RESTRICTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE/ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
S1342 Chickens, Ordinance Preemption coming Dead 03/09/2026 1 -5 This legislation erases current city ordinances, some that already allow for chickens, setting a new "floor" for 4 chickens in all single-family residences' backyards
S1352a Starter Home Subdivisions coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 04/01/2026 2 -3 This legislation does not clearly define "starter home" and forces municipalities to accept smaller lot sizes without ensuring affordability outcomes. We greatly appreciate how the bill sponsor has worked with on amendments, but the AIC board and our members still feel these bills are problematic and will be costly to try to implement and possibly cause costly litigation.
S1353a Twin Home, Duplex Regulations coming Dead 03/23/2026 1 -3 This legislation prohibits cities from requiring more than one (1) off-street parking space per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of bedrooms and/or occupants may live there. An example from Pocatello showed a duplex with 6 bedrooms per side, with 2 college-aged girls living in each bedroom. That created 24 drivers in those two units. This could have made parking impossible in that neighborhood, if they hadn't had the appropriate parking. We greatly appreciate how the bill sponsor has worked with on amendments, but the AIC board and our members still feel these bills are problematic and will be costly to try to implement and possibly cause costly litigation.
S1354a ADU's by Right coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 04/01/2026 2 -3 This bill ignores Idaho's current infrastructure realities. We have old, and in some cases, failing infrastructure all over the state that municipalities are already struggling to address due to the revenue constraints of H389 from 2021. This legislation will exacerbate the problem and create costly litigation if cities deny proposed ADU's. We greatly appreciate how the bill sponsor has worked with on amendments, but the AIC board and our members still feel these bills are problematic and will be costly to try to implement and possibly cause costly litigation.
SR113 Political Violence coming Signed/Enacted/Adopted 02/09/2026 0 5 Civilization does not and cannot exist without those first 5 letters of that word, "CIVIL". Each of us has a responsibility to engage respectfully and civilly with each other, and we can't continue to tolerate bad behavior

Votes = recorded floor roll calls on the bill. A bill with 0 votes died before a floor vote and scores no one.

Association of Idaho CitiesVote data from the Idaho Legislature via QIBrain · Bill Tracker by Quiet Impact
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