Idaho Senate Bill SR125

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/25/26
• Refer: 3/26/26

Caption

RULE APPROVAL – SENATE RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE – States findings of the Senate and provides that all temporary and pending rules of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, the Idaho Department of Water Resources, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality have been reviewed and approved by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee, with exceptions.

Summary

SR125 is a Senate resolution that ratifies the Senate Resources and Environment Committee’s review of a set of temporary and pending administrative rules from several Idaho agencies. The measure states that, with limited exceptions, the committee approved the rules of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, the Idaho Department of Water Resources, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The resolution specifically withholds approval from two portions of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation rule docket (Sections 075 and 250 of Docket No. 26-0120-2501) and two portions of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality groundwater quality rule (Sections 003 and 200.01.a of Docket No. 58-0111-2501). It also notes that the committee approved the pending Idaho Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems docket (58-0108-2502) with an effective date of sine die. The bill is procedural rather than substantive, and it does not itself create new regulatory programs or standards; instead, it confirms legislative approval of existing or pending agency rules, subject to the stated exceptions.

Impact

SR125 affects the legal status of administrative rules by formally approving most temporary and pending rules reviewed by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee and by leaving specific rule sections unapproved. This means the approved rules may proceed, while the disapproved sections in parks/recreation and groundwater quality do not receive legislative ratification in their cited form. The resolution also confirms approval of the public drinking water systems rule with a delayed effective date, influencing when that rule takes effect. The bill has no fiscal impact and does not directly change appropriations or revenues.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment appears neutral to favorable toward the committee’s rule review process, as reflected by the bill’s adoption by voice vote and its routine procedural nature. The resolution passed without recorded opposition in the provided history, suggesting general agreement on approving the bulk of the rules. The limited exceptions indicate that lawmakers were willing to support most agency rulemaking while still exercising oversight over specific provisions they found problematic or unnecessary.

Contention

The main points of contention are the specific rule sections excluded from approval: portions of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation’s rules governing park and recreation areas and facilities, and portions of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s groundwater quality rule. Those exclusions suggest concern about the substance or scope of those provisions, though the provided materials do not include debate transcripts explaining the objections. By contrast, the approval of the drinking water systems rule with a sine die effective date indicates some attention to timing and implementation, but not outright opposition. Overall, the contention is narrow and technical, centered on particular administrative rule provisions rather than the broader resolution.