Real Legislative Wins for Idaho

This legislative session, the Idaho Freedom Caucus members delivered real results for Idaho families. From protecting constitutional rights and strengthening election integrity, to cutting government overreach, restoring fiscal responsibility, and defending parents and children, our members led and ensured passage of a large slate of strong legislation.

Members worked on hundreds of their own bill ideas, while reviewing thousands of other proposed ideas. Seventy-five of our team’s bills were signed into law and reflect what Idahoans have been asking for: greater transparency, stronger protections, and a leaner government that works for the people, not against them.

Below is a general summary of 2026 legislative ideas that were sponsored or co-sponsored by our members that became law. The entire list of all bills that were introduced and their specific details can be reviewed here.

Justice / Public Safety / Courts

• S1232 –Criminals can’t profit from their crimes

• S1296 – Criminal trespass at churches

• S1369 – Locations of filings for civil actions

• H516 – K-12 instruction, sexual orientation

• H541 – Enticing a child stricter penalties

• H560 – Allows jurors to volunteer as poll workers in lieu of jury duty

• H575 – Asset forfeiture reporting to State Controller

• H581 –Legislative review of Supreme Court rules

• H635 – Education Professional Standards Commission reporting of crimes

• H772 – Industrial hemp producers regulatory limits

• H776 – Child safety checks for children under 1 year old

• H518 – Human trafficking, AG authority to investigate

• H615 – Disturbing the peace at churches

• H642 – Public safety officer benefits for death in line of duty

• S1239 – Sex offender restrictions near day care facilities

Education

• S1335 – Medical & vet students working in Idaho

• S1412 – Student safety / disclosure of misconduct involving students

• H623 – Moment of silence in class

• H711 – School administration alternative authorization

• H728 – Certification for classified staff

• H731 – Federal scholarship opt-in

• H846 – Student enrollment counts

• H516 – No taxpayer dollars for teacher’s union activities

Sovereignty / Constitutional Rights / Elections / Integrity

• S1299 – Digital ID limitations for government

• H650 – State sovereignty jurisdiction

• H602 – American Laws for American Courts (prohibits foreign law)

• H558 – Federal benefits for children in state legal custody

• H872 – Ballot preparation, general elections

• H548 –Fourth amendment protections for boating searches

• SJM112 – Balanced budget – request for federal restraint

Health Freedom

• S1269 – Cloud seeding program provisions

• S1270 – Labeling requirements for cell cultured proteins (Lab-grown meat)

• H528 – Directed blood transfusions for patients and donors

• H648 – Coverage of oral anticancer medications

Economy / Workforce / Prosperity

• S1286 – Veterans consumer protection of benefits

• H507 – Military justice code non judicial punishment

• H514 – Barber & cosmetology exams upon 80% completion of education hrs

• H832 – Career technical education certificates

• HJM20 – Federal education funding of immigrants

• S1352 – Prohibits cities from banning starter home subdivisions

• S1354 – Prohibits cities from banning accessory dwelling units

• H879 – Sale of industrial hemp products for ingestion or inhalation

• H 563 – Certified public accountants-reduction of barriers

Traditional Values / Social Policy

• H504 – Lottery ticket buying limits

• H752 – Restroom/changing room protections

• H856 – Protection of human remains

• H542 – Social media addiction protections

• H822 – Parental rights (secretive gender transitions at schools)

• HCR24 – Resolution honoring Coeur d’ Alene firefighters

• H544 – Revisions for leave of absence from regular duties for military

• H663 – Agriculture license plates

Government Oversight / DOGE / Code Cleanup and Removal of Code

• S1236 – Women’s commission repeal

• S1248 – Capital crimes cleanup language

• S1249 – Time zones cleanup language

• S1265 – Petroleum / clean water cleanup language

• S1320 – State controller cleanup language

• H593 – DEQ cleanup language

• H799 – Alcoholic beverages cleanup language

• H798 – Treasurer lending cleanup language

• H893 – Codifier corrections

Finance / Budget / Appropriations

Several of our members are on the Joint Appropriations and Finance Committee which met nearly every day to address and finalize Idaho’s annual budget. This year has been the first year in decades that the committee had a conservative majority and could actually secure real meaningful cuts to the budget.

Idaho Freedom Caucus member are proud of these efforts and happy to report that the 2026 budget and the 2027 budget have both decreased! It’s simple: if Idahoans must live within their means, so do state agencies.

Below are a few highlighted results from these budget cutting efforts:

Significant Spending Reductions: Successful passage of mid-year budget cuts totaling over $130 million from the General Fund, eliminating non-essential government spending.

Requiring Budgeting Best Practices: Eliminated automatic budget increases for state agencies based on their perceived need. Instead, budget process started with a reduced baseline and required every agency to justify each dollar they requested from taxpayers.

Across-the-Board Agency Cuts: To ensure the government is as fiscally responsible as Idaho families, most state agencies saw meaningful budget reductions of up to 5%, while still protecting crucial services.

Deficit to Surplus: Renewed focus on aligning ongoing state spending with state ongoing revenue, rejecting the use of one-time funds for recurring expenses. This strategic shift transformed a projected $100 million deficit for FY 2027 into a $26 million surplus.

Realistic Revenue Forecasting: By basing the state budget on realistic and responsible revenue estimates, the budget process avoided the temptation of using inflated projections and spending money not available. This responsible approach now allows Idaho to fully implement the Trump tax cuts, which will save Idahoans over $150 million each year starting in FY 2026.

Boosting State Reserves: The 2026 budgeting decisions prioritized a positive ending balance to protect Idaho from future economic downturns. As a result, we turned a projected $25 million ending balance for FY 2027 into a robust $230 million surplus.

Reinforced Accountability: The 2026 budget process increased transparency and oversight by requiring agencies to provide a line-by-line justification for their expenditures, fostering a culture of performance and fiscal responsibility.

The 2026 legislative session marked another year of significant victories for Idahoans and members of the Idaho Freedom Caucus are proud to have played key roles in getting this done. We successfully achieved several important goals, including cutting wasteful government spending, protecting children from abuse and strengthening parental rights. We also made strides in improving housing affordability, reforming our court system, expanding health freedom and nutrition transparency, and ensuring the integrity of our elections.

Our Work Continues

As the world becomes unstable and uncertain around us, Idaho Freedom Caucus members understand the importance of creating and maintaining a state where freedoms, liberties and families are afforded a place to call home. Whether we are in session or back in our districts, we are constantly engaging to understand the needs of our constituents and working to safeguard our community and traditional values. You are the reason we do this work.

If you want to help us keep upholding the values and principles that you hold dear, please support our work today.