Adds to existing law to establish the Department of Governmental Efficiency Task Force.
House Bill 364 creates a new legislative task force called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) legislative task force within Idaho law. The task force would be formed by July 1, 2025, and would include nine legislators: three appointed by the Speaker of the House, three by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and three from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. It would be co-chaired by one House appointee and one Senate appointee, meet at least twice a year, may use nonvoting technical advisors, and is authorized to study government efficiency issues, agency functions, regulatory processes, and budget authority.
The bill adds a new section to Title 67, Chapter 23 of the Idaho Code establishing a temporary legislative oversight body focused on fiscal responsibility, regulatory reduction, agency consolidation, and elimination of waste or redundancy. It directs the task force to review state government operations, make recommendations to the legislature, and use state staff, resources, and technology, including artificial intelligence, when helpful. The task force would operate until November 30, 2029, after which the section sunsets and becomes void, and the bill takes effect immediately upon passage because of the emergency clause.
The available voting history suggests the bill had majority support in the House, passing third reading 43-23. The bill’s stated purpose and structure indicate a generally favorable sentiment toward government efficiency, oversight, and cost control among supporters. No committee transcript is available, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the vote margin suggests meaningful support alongside a substantial minority of opposition.
The main points of contention are likely the scope of the task force’s mandate and its broader policy goals, especially the directive to pursue regulatory reduction and the goal of shifting nearly all regulations into statute by 2033. Critics may also object to the use of state resources, the inclusion of artificial intelligence in government review, or the creation of another legislative body to study efficiency. Supporters appear to view the task force as a mechanism to reduce waste, improve accountability, and streamline state government.