Amends and adds to existing law to increase fees for the Idaho state parks and trails passport program, to allocate moneys into certain funds, and to create a nonmotorized recreation fund.
Summary
House Bill 57 revises Idaho’s vehicle registration law to expand and rename the Idaho State Parks and Trails Passport program and to increase the passport fee. Under the bill, vehicle registrants may purchase a one-year or two-year passport that authorizes resident motor vehicle entry into Idaho state parks. The bill raises the passport price from the existing $10/$20 structure to $20 for one year and $40 for two years, while specifying how the proceeds are divided between the park and recreation fund and a new nonmotorized recreation fund.
The bill also creates a new nonmotorized recreation fund in the state treasury and directs the Department of Parks and Recreation to administer it. Money in that fund may be used for land acquisition, trail and facility development, nonmotorized user education, matching federal funds, enforcement, and annual grants to governmental entities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations, with a cap that no more than 50% of fund revenues may go to grants. The bill requires an annual public report on how the passport revenues are used and declares that the funding arrangement does not create additional liability for the state or its political subdivisions. It takes effect July 1, 2025, under an emergency clause.
Impact
The bill amends Section 49-402, Idaho Code, to change the Idaho State Parks and Trails Passport fee schedule and to direct a portion of passport revenue into the park and recreation fund and a newly created nonmotorized recreation fund. It also adds Section 67-7134, Idaho Code, establishing the new fund, defining permissible uses, and assigning administration to the Department of Parks and Recreation. The measure affects vehicle registrants who choose to buy the passport, state parks funding, and entities eligible for grants or project support related to nonmotorized recreation.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented debate or recorded floor sentiment to summarize. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a funding and program-expansion bill intended to support parks and nonmotorized recreation through dedicated fee revenue. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments in the provided materials suggests the available context is neutral and limited.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are the fee increase and the new allocation of passport revenue. Supporters would likely favor the added funding for parks, trails, land access, and nonmotorized recreation grants, while critics could object to higher costs for vehicle registrants or to diverting revenue into a new fund rather than the existing park and recreation fund. Another possible issue is the broad range of authorized uses for the new fund, including grants to nongovernmental organizations and enforcement activities, though no specific objections are documented in the provided materials.