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Idaho Legislative Report

IWUA's Legislative Committee develops and reviews proposed legislation affecting water users in Idaho. The Committee has earned a reputation for finding thoughtful, collaborative solutions to some of more challenging water issues. Over the last decade, the Committee has had a 95.86% success rate (see table below).

    Legislative archives are available by contacting our office.

    68th Idaho Legislature

    2nd Regular Session


    2026 Legislative Report

    2026 Legislative Session Scorecard

    Bill Number S1221 (Support)

    PERSI Application: Clarifying that the 8-months / year work exception for PERSI retirees applies to "irrigation or drainage entities". 

    House Action: Passed 70-0-0
    Senate Action: Passed 33-0-2
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number S1222 (Support)

    Domestic Exemption: Providing the following amendments / clarifications to S1083a (2025):

    1. Limiting “subdivisions,” for section 42-111 & 42-227 to 5 lots.
    2. Amendments to 42-227(4) and 31-3805 only apply to subdivisions with final applications filed on or after July 1, 2025.
    3. Additional amendments to improve readability and enforcement.

    House Action: Passed 69-0-1
    Senate Action: Passed 29-0-6
    Final Action: Law

    __________________________

    Bill Number S1269 (Support)

    Cloud Seeding (Chapter 43, Title 42): Establishing definitions, public engagement, and reporting for snow-related cloud seeding programs in Idaho.

    House Action:
    Senate Action: 3rd Reading 
    Final Action: 

    ______________________

    Bill Number S1304 (Support)

    Ditch Easements: Amending Idaho code to clarify that a ditch easement includes the right to address structures connected to those ditches within an easement, without requiring a landowner’s written permission. 

    House Action:
    Senate Action: 3rd Reading
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number S1305 (Support)

    Water District / Property Transaction (I.C. 42-612): Authorizing water district members to adopt a resolution setting a fee to cover costs associated with assisting in the transfer of water rights in a property transaction.  

    House Action:
    Senate Action: 3rd Reading
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number S1306 (Support)

    Irrigation District / Exclusion Hearings: Establishing a hearing process for orders responding to a petition for exclusion.

    House Action:
    Senate Action: 3rd Reading
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number 1307 (Support)

    Lateral Ditches (Chapters 9 & 13, Title 42): Repealing Chapter 9 and consolidating its provisions in Chapter 13. Additional amendments are also included to ensure that necessary Chapter 9 provisions continue in effect.

    House Action:
    Senate Action: 3rd Reading
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number S1337 (Support)

    Irrigation District Board / Residency: For districts under 15,000 acres, allowing landowners to serve on a board if they own land in the represented division and live in the same or adjoining county as the district. 

    House Action:
    Senate Action: Resources & Environment Committee
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number SCR116 (Support)

    Water Funding Infrastructure (IWRB District 1): Acknowledgement efforts by the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) to address water supply and infrastructure needs in IWRB District 1 (North Idaho).

    House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee
    Senate Action: Adopted Voice Vote
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number SCR117 (Support)

    Water Funding Infrastructure (IWRB District 4): Acknowledgement efforts by the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) to address water supply and infrastructure needs in IWRB District 4 (Eastern Idaho).

    House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee
    Senate Action: Adopted Voice Vote
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number SCR118 (Support)

    Water Funding Infrastructure (IWRB District 3): Acknowledgement efforts by the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) to address water supply and infrastructure needs in IWRB District 3 (Magic Valley / Wood River Valley Idaho).

    House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee
    Senate Action: Passed 31-3-1
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number SCR119 (Support)

    Water Funding Infrastructure (IWRB District 2): Acknowledgement efforts by the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) to address water supply and infrastructure needs in IWRB District 2 (Southwest Idaho).

    House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee
    Senate Action: Adopted Voice Vote
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number H567 (Support)

    IDWR Red Tape Cleanup: Amendments to Title 42, Idaho Code, in response to the 2025 Idaho Code Cleanup Act. 

    House Action: Resources and Conservation Committee
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number H669 (Oppose)

    Cloud Seeding Repeal: Enacts a full repeal of cloud seeding operations and any other weather modification in Idaho. 

    House Action: Held with Clerk
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number H676 (Support)

    RAFN / Geothermal Development: Authorizing municipal geothermal operators to develop water rights for Reasonably Anticipated Future Needs (RAFN).

    House Action: Passed 68-2-0
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number 737 (Support)

    Merger of OSC & OEMR: Legislation merging the Governor's offices of OSC and OEMR and implementing a process to review / streamline project permitting. 

    House Action: Passed 66-4-0
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number HJM13 (Support)

    Clean Water Act: Urging the federal government to apply the Clean Water Act consistent with the Supreme Court's decision in Sackett v. EPA.

    House Action: 3rd Reading
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number HJM14 (Support)

    Storage in Idaho: Supporting efforts to identify and develop new water storage projects in Idaho and supporting a goal of 750,000 a/f of new water storage by 2100.

    House Action: Adopted Voice Vote 
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    ____________________________________________________ Bill Number HJM15 (Oppose)

    Cloud Seeding Memorial: Calling on Congress and Idaho's legislature to prohibit weather modification and declare any weather modification to be a felony.

    House Action: Environment, Energy and Technology Committee
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number N/A (Oppose)

    Cloud Seeding Limitations: Legislation that would significantly limit cloud seeding in Idaho, including putting management of cloud seeding under the purview of the legislature (instead of the Water Board).

    House Action: Held in Committee

    __________________________

    Bill Number N/A (Oppose)

    MHAFB Reimbursement: Requiring that the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) negotiate with the foreign countries operating at the Mountain Home Air Force Base (MHAFB) for a "fair share" reimbursement of the cost of construction for a water supply pipeline.

    House Action: Failed in Committee

    __________________________

    Bill Number TBD (Support)

    Water Project Funding: Continuing the ongoing appropriation of $30 million for water infrastructure and supply projects in Idaho.

    House Action:
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number TBD (Support)

    IWRRI Funding: Continuing the ongoing appropriation of $1 million for the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute.

    House Action:
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    Bill Number TBD (Support)

    Bear River Basin: Joint Resolution supporting requesting that the Water Board analysis current water development under the Bear River Compact and opportunities to develop any additional allocation under the Compact.

    House Action:
    Senate Action: 
    Final Action: 

    __________________________

    IWUA Legislative Committee


    Legislative Committee Chair: Aaron Dalling

    District 1: Mike Rasmussen 

    District 2: Alan Kelsch

    District 3: Payton Hampton

    District 4: Jeff Darrington

    District 5: Rick Pearson

    District 6: Alan Hansten 

    District 7: Carl Seiders 

    District 8: Alan Smith 

    District 9: Greg Shenton 

    District 10: Tyson Scott 

    District 11: Donald Barksdale 

    District 12: Kirk Meyers

     District 13: Neil Shippy

     District 14: Chad Henggeler 

    District 15: Barney Metz 

    District 16: Harold Mohlman

    Ground Water: T.J. Budge

    Ground Water: Lara Herway

    Ground Water: Jaron Raybould

    Ground Water: Shawn VanOrden

    Ground Water: Adam Young

     Associate Member: Keith Esplin

    Associate Member: Roger Warner

    At-large, Surface Water: Shawn Tischendorf

    At-large, Surface Water: Dan Davidson



    Contact Us: 

    208-344-6690

    iwua@iwua.org

    Address: 

    101 S. Capitol Boulevard, Suite 1205

    Boise, Idaho 83702

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