Capitol Reflections: 2026 Session, Issue 2

Slow Moving Vehicle Bill Introduced

S1224 was introduced by Senator Van Burtenshaw in the Senate Transportation Committee. As Idaho becomes more urban, more people become unfamiliar with what a rural traffic jam looks like. Current Idaho law says that when three or more vehicles are lined up behind a vehicle like agriculture equipment, the equipment must move over and allow traffic to pass. However, that can be extremely unsafe for everyone if the producer is forced to move somewhere that poses a risk.

The goal of the bill is to clarify that farm and construction equipment has the right-of-way until a size and safe location exists for the operator to pull over. This is a commonsense fix that has become necessary to address at a state level. IFBF policy 154.20 states, “We support agricultural equipment with legal signage having the right of way. When motorists are approaching agriculture equipment, they must yield the right of way similar to emergency vehicles.” IFBF Supports S1224.

Added Transparency for Initiatives

This week a bill that would provide additional transparency in the initiative process was introduced in the House State Affairs Committee. H501 would require people who are paid to gather signatures for an initiative to do two things. 

First, they must wear a badge that is clearly visible to any person who may sign the petition, which reads “paid petition circulator.”  The badge must also clearly show which persons or entities are paying the person to gather signatures.

Second, each page of the petition used to gather signatures must clearly state the person is receiving payment in exchange for circulating the petition and the name of the persons or entities providing payment to the person.

H501 provides valuable information to the public about who is funding initiatives. The committee supported introducing the bill, and it will be scheduled for a full hearing in the next week or so. Rep Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) and Rep Joe Alfieri (R-Coeur d’ Alene) are the sponsors of H501.

Water Users Gather in Boise

Members of the Idaho Water Users Association gathered in Boise this week for the organization’s 89th Annual Convention. Attendees heard updates and presentations on a wide range of topics, including settlement agreements, the statewide water outlook, cloud seeding, emerging technologies, water conservation tools, and the expansion and growth of data centers.

Water users also began considering legislative proposals that the association may weigh in on during the 2026 legislative session. Several of these issues align with Farm Bureau water priorities, including potential updates and clean-up language to last year’s domestic well legislation to provide greater clarity on which subdivisions and projects are subject to the new law. Other discussions focused on continued support for water infrastructure funding and additional projects, as well as efforts to increase transparency in the state’s cloud seeding program.

Farm Bureau policy supports continued reforms to the state’s domestic well laws, ongoing investment in maintaining existing water infrastructure, and pursuing new water projects that improve water storage opportunities. Farm Bureau also supports the state’s cloud seeding efforts and expanding those programs to additional regions across Idaho.

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Resources Available to Follow During Session:

Legislative Website Homepage: HERE

2025 Legislative Session Bill Center: HERE

List of Senate Committee Assignments: HERE

List of House Committee Assignments: HERE

Current Senate Committee Agendas: HERE

Current House Committee Agendas: HERE

Watch Committee Meetings and Floor Sessions Live: HERE

Governor’s Bill Action and Legislative Communications: HERE