Adds to existing law to establish the Idaho Code Cleanup Act.
Summary
House Bill 14 creates the “Idaho Code Cleanup Act” and adds a new chapter to Title 67 of the Idaho Code. The bill states a legislative intent to streamline state law, remove bureaucracy, and identify provisions that are obsolete, outdated, or unnecessary. It defines those terms and establishes a process for state agencies to review the code sections they administer or enforce and report potentially removable provisions to the Legislature.
Under the bill, each state agency must, by September 1, 2025, review its enabling statutes, related code sections, and any provisions it enforces, then submit a report identifying chapters, sections, or subsections the agency believes should be repealed or otherwise removed. Agencies may also flag provisions outside their direct jurisdiction and may suggest ways to make necessary laws more concise. The reports must be submitted through an online portal to be established by the Idaho Legislative Services Office. The act includes an emergency clause, making it effective immediately upon passage and approval.
Impact
The bill does not itself repeal any statutes, but it changes state administrative procedure by requiring agencies to conduct a code review and provide recommendations to the Legislature. Its practical effect is to create a formal statewide process for identifying outdated, duplicative, unenforced, or unnecessary provisions in Idaho law, potentially leading to future repeals or revisions. It affects all state agencies and the legislative services office, and it may influence a broad range of code chapters across the Idaho Code.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong bipartisan or at least unanimous support: the bill passed the House 68-0 and the Senate 34-0. The text and context indicate a generally favorable sentiment toward reducing clutter in the code and improving statutory clarity. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous votes suggest little public opposition in the recorded legislative process.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available record, likely because the bill is procedural and does not directly change substantive policy. The main policy judgment embedded in the bill is how to define and identify “obsolete,” “outdated,” and “unnecessary” laws, and whether agencies should only report on their own purview or also flag other provisions. Another possible point of concern is that the bill asks agencies to make recommendations about repeal or simplification, which could raise questions about workload, scope, and how aggressively the Legislature should act on those recommendations. However, no specific objections are reflected in the provided votes or transcripts.