Legislative Watch

During the Idaho legislative session (January through April) the Nonprofit Center sends out bi-weekly email newsletters that covers potential bills that could impact the Idaho nonprofit sector at state and federal levels. Current areas or focus are:
  • ​Protecting nonprofit property tax exemptions 
  • Building public trust, transparency, and accountability in the nonprofit sector
  • Maintaining Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying Rights and Protecting the ‘Johnson Amendment’
  • Maintaining budget appropriations for nonprofits from state and federal sources
  • Expanding charitable giving incentives in tax code
  • Seek or expand policy solutions that benefit a strong nonprofit workforce as nonprofits are the fourth largest private sector employer in Idaho 

Bill Tracker

2026 Idaho Legislative Session (House) 
Bill # Bill Title Summary Status Policy Category Our Position Resources
H508 Bike, pedestrian projects, federal funds Updates code to allow for federal funds/grants to be a reason for doing bike or pedestrian projects that are attached to highway projects. In Committee Nonprofit Subsector Awareness: Recreation Monitoring
HJR007 Sectarian (religious) appropriation, prohibition Proposes a constitutional amendment that would repeal the 'Blaine amendment' which prohibits public funding for sectarian (religious purposes) Sent to House Floor Maintaining budget appropriations Monitoring
H529 Health care cash payments Establishes provisions regarding certain out‑of‑pocket payments for health care services, including allowing covered persons to negotiate lower prices and ensuring those negotiated payments count toward cost‑sharing requirements. In Committee Nonprofit Subsector Awareness: Healthcare Monitoring
H558 Children, federal benefits Would require the Department of Health and Welfare to apply and preserve available Social Security survivor benefits for children in the department’s legal custody, ensuring those benefits are accessed and maintained on behalf of the child. In Committee Maintaining budget appropriations Monitoring
H559 Internal revenue code conformity Conforms Idaho's tax code to mirror changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill, with some exceptions. Would decrease state revenue sources by and estimated $175M annually, and put pressure on cuts to human services. Passed House; On Senate Floor Maintaining budget appropriations Monitoring Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy
HJR008 State owned lands HJR 8 proposes an amendment to the Idaho Constitution to prioritize revenue-generating uses and public access for recreation on state endowment lands, while restricting sale or exchange below appraised value. In Committee Nonprofit Subsector Awareness: Recreation Monitoring
HJM012 Joint Memorial HJM 12 is a formal objection by the Idaho Legislature to a proposed Utah fuel export tax, warning it would unfairly burden Idaho businesses, (e.g. nonprofits), employees, and residents. Sent to House Floor Nonprofit Operations Advocating For
H562 Insurance, cancel and nonrenewal Updates Idaho insurance law to extend the required notice periods for policy cancellations and nonrenewals for commercial/residential property insurance—from 30 or 45 days to 60 days in most cases—and clarifies procedures for informing insured parties. The bill aims to improve consumer protections by ensuring businesses and individuals have more time to respond to changes in their insurance coverage. In Committee Nonprofit Operations Monitoring
H574 Medical Mandates Would repeal daycare and school vaccine mandate language. Adds a private right of action (lawsuit) for individuals to take against employers or places of business. In Committee Nonprofit Operations Monitoring
H583 Short term rentals Limits how Idaho cities and counties can regulate short-term rentals by prohibiting local rules that impose additional burdens compared to other residential properties. In Committee Nonprofit Subsector Awareness: Housing Monitoring
H584 Workers, lawful status Requires all Idaho employers to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the legal work authorization of new hires and prohibits knowingly employing unauthorized workers. The bill includes escalating penalties for non compliance and provides affirmative defenses for employers that comply in good faith. In Committee Strong nonprofit workforce Monitoring
H592 Patient immigration status data Requires hospitals to ask patients to self-report their immigration status upon admission and to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Health and Welfare. The state will use this data to compile annual reports on immigration-related hospital usage and uncompensated care impacts In Committee Nonprofit Operations Monitoring
 2026 Idaho Legislative Session (Senate)
Bill # Bill Title Summary Status Policy Category Our Position Resources
SJR103 State Trust Lands SJR 103 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of certain public lands acquired from the federal government and place them in a permanent public trust. These lands would be managed to support public access, recreation, habitat, and education, with revenue directed to a new Public Lands Trust Fund. In Committee Nonprofit Subsector Awareness: Recreation Monitoring
S1247 Idaho e-verify act Would require private employers (including nonprofits) with over 150 employers who do $100k+ of business with state/local government annually would be required to enroll and use e-verify for employment verification In Committee Strong nonprofit workforce Monitoring
S1253 Rural Health Transformation Establishes the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund and a six-member Rural Health Transformation Committee to oversee federal grant dollars supporting rural healthcare innovation and infrastructure. The committee is tasked with reviewing project proposals, ensuring compliance with federal guidelines, tracking outcomes, and recommending legislative actions as needed In Committee Maintaining budget appropriations Monitoring
Ongoing Federal Bills
Bill # Bill Title Summary Status Policy Category Position Resources
HR2891 IRA Charitable Rollover Facilitation and Enhancement Act of 2025 This bipartisan bill, introduced in the House, would make an amendment to current code by allowing donors to make Qualified Charitable Distributions to donor advised funds (DAFs), which is currently not allowed. In committee Expanding charitable giving incentives Advocating For Link to bill author's press release

Ongoing Federal Topics

​Executive Orders, Funding Questions, and Strategies

Navigating the recent Executive Orders
  • This chart outlines some of the EOs that may affect nonprofits directly or indirectly.

Executive Orders FAQ
  • There are so many executive actions being taken by President Trump. Which ones do I have to worry about?

What to do if your Federal Grant is Cancelled
  • Additional information as more information about the impact of the Administration’s actions on federal grants and contracts arises. 

Communications Guide
  • This guide is intended to help our community tell the value story of the nonprofit community, before it is defined by others.

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