City staff provided the council an overview of early 2025 Idaho legislative proposals of interest to municipalities and described AIC (Association of Idaho Cities) positions under consideration.

Catherine (legislative briefing lead) told the council the state legislature opened and several bills with potential municipal impact are moving through committees. She summarized the items she and staff will continue to monitor and where the Association of Idaho Cities has taken or is considering positions.

Bills highlighted by staff

- House Bill 2 (ballot initiatives): Seeks to raise the statewide ballot-initiative approval threshold to 60 percent from a simple majority. AIC had not taken a position at the time of the briefing.
- House Bill 6 (attorney general powers): Expands the attorney general’s investigative and prosecutorial authority over elected county and city officials. City staff said AIC supports transparency and that local counsel (city attorney) did not express concern because the city follows open-meeting requirements.
- House Bill 7 (marijuana possession penalties): Would create a specific penalty tier for possession in smaller quantities (a $300 fine was discussed for specified amounts); staff noted that local law-enforcement partners described current enforcement challenges involving fentanyl, methamphetamine and other controlled substances; staff said the bill would become effective July 1, 2025 if passed.
- House Bill 11 (illegal entry/reentry): Creates state-level offenses related to unauthorized entry and provides civil indemnity for local officials; staff and public-safety listeners cautioned about trust issues if local officers were perceived as immigration enforcers and said this could affect reporting in immigrant communities.
- House Bill 17 (wildfire risk litigation/stabilization pool): Establishes a wildfire-risk stabilization pool funded by a mix of sources; staff said AIC provided passive support and certain utility and insurer interests are engaged.
- House Bill 18 (building-code/EV charger preemption): Would prohibit local governments from mandating EV chargers under the Idaho Building Code Act; Boise’s recent experience that prompted the bill was cited; AIC strongly opposed the preemption because it restricts local code authority.
- House Bill 32 (mask mandate preemption): Staff noted resurfacing of mask-preemption language; AIC strongly opposed preemption here.
- House Bill 33 (electronic public notice): Would permit cities to use electronic public noticing rather than a newspaper; staff said Idaho Falls currently spends about $30,000 annually on published notices in the Post Register and AIC supports allowing electronic noticing.
- House Bill 45 (flag displays): Seeks to limit the display of certain flags on publicly owned flagpoles and raised free-speech and forum questions; AIC was watching but not taking a formal position.

Staff cautions and next steps

Staff asked council members to be prepared for requests for positions from AIC and noted the city’s legislative contacts were watching key bills. Staff flagged potential public-safety and community-trust consequences if local law enforcement were directed into immigration-enforcement activities, and said the city would continue to coordinate with local police, the county and AIC on those items.

Council questions and staff answers

Councilors pressed for detail on Medicaid-expansion repeal proposals and the potential local impacts on hospitals, ambulance services and county indigent funds; staff said AIC had not yet adopted a position but noted the fiscal impacts could be substantial and that hospital and public-health stakeholders were watching closely.

What the city will do

City staff will monitor bills, coordinate with AIC and return with recommended positions when items require a city-level response.