Legislative Updates Impacting Idaho's Agricultural Community

In our ongoing commitment to keep Idaho's agricultural producers informed, we present summaries of recent legislative developments that may affect your operations.​ Listed are summaries of recent Idaho bills pertinent to agriculture, property rights, and related sectors.

1. Idaho Brand Department Statutory Fee Adjustment

• The Idaho Brand Department, responsible for livestock brand inspections, is facing increased operational costs and anticipates a significant budget deficit by the end of the fiscal year. To address this, a pending rule proposes increasing the statutory cap on fees for services such as brand inspections, recordings, renewals, and livestock dealer licensing. This adjustment aims to ensure the department remains self-funded without burdening the general public or taxpayers.

2. S1033: Enhancing Right to Farm Protections

The Idaho Right to Farm Act safeguards agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits. However, with increasing complaints from new residents unfamiliar with agricultural practices, S1033 proposes additional protections. If an agricultural operation faces a nuisance lawsuit and prevails, the operator would be entitled to recover attorney’s fees. The bill also introduces fines for individuals who file multiple meritless complaints against farming operations.

3. S1342: Extending Grazing Lease Terms

S1342 authorizes the Idaho Department of Lands to extend grazing leases on state endowment lands from a maximum of 20 years to up to 40 years. This extension provides livestock operators with long-term planning stability and ensures a consistent revenue stream for the endowment fund.

4. S1012: Establishing a Depredating Wildlife Appeals Board

With rising incidents of livestock losses due to wildlife depredation, S1012 proposes creating an appeals board comprising three experts to review determinations made by federal investigators. This board would reassess compensation eligibility and contribute to more accurate wildlife management statistics.

5. H0104: Agricultural Building Code Act

This amends existing law to provide a definition for agricultural builds and that counties shall not alter the provisions of the section. It passed, was signed into law by Idaho Governor Brad Little, and will become effective on July 1, 2025.

Being Informed and Staying Involved is Key to the Success of Agriculture

We encourage all agricultural producers to review these legislative updates and assess their potential impacts on your operations. Staying informed and engaged with policy changes is crucial and your lawmakers need to hear from you regarding legislation you support and oppose.

Links

More information about Statutory Fee Adjustments by Idaho Cattle Association HERE

Bill Language S1033 HERE

Bill Language S1342 HERE

Bill Language S1012 HERE

Bill Language H0104 HERE