Legislative Session 2026 Update
It’s been a few weeks since I have posted an update, so I would like to touch on a few noteworthy pieces of legislation and the status of each.
It has been a crazy busy session so far. We are on the 54th legislative day of the session, and we have introduced 562 bills in both the Senate and House chambers.
We likely have another month of session to go and haven’t even heard any of the budget bills come through yet.
So quick recap:
HB570A - Reckless driving in excess of 20mph over the speed limit in active construction or school zones, carries a misdemeanor penalty. This bill is awaiting a hearing in the senate.
HB518 - Human trafficking - gives the Attorney General discretion to prosecute the often-complex cases involving the trafficking of people. This bill is up for a vote on the Senate floor today.
HB528 - Allows for people to self-donate blood or direct someone of their choosing to donate blood. This expands the Medical Freedom right of bodily autonomy, and what type of blood they receive. This bill is up for a vote on the Senate floor today.
HB557 - This bill preempts city “anti-discrimination” codes and ordinances, which give protections and extra “rights” to the LGBTQ community, but violates the freedom of conscience of business owners. The Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 584 U.S. 617 (2018) case became famous and is what drives the intent of HB557. This bill is in Senate State Affairs where it likely will die.
HB559 - The IRS Conformity Bill that brings the tax deduction provisions of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on tips and overtime (and other related tax sections) into Idaho, so we can conform to IRS code. This has been signed into law.
HB561A - This is the follow-up fix for the highly controversial flag bill that was passed in Session 2025, but with provisions for enforcement, fines and directing prosecutorial action by the Attorney General. Hopefully, Boise City Mayor will cease violating the law if this gets passed. This bill passed the House and has been transmitted to the Senate.
HB583 - Protecting and affirming the private property rights of STR (Short Term Rentals) owners. Restricts the ability of cities to regulate except for public health situations. This bill is up for a vote on the Senate floor today.
HB607 - Protecting Privacy in Public Government Restrooms Act - prohibits people of one gender from using the opposite sex restroom. In other words, men use men’s facilities only. Provides a right of action for a private citizen who had their privacy rights violated pursuant to this bill. This bill is in Senate State Affairs where it likely will die.
HB638 - Another legislative attempt at trying to restore the Presidential Primary back into law. Up for a vote in the House likely Monday 3-9-26.
HB688 - Criminalizes selling or installing counterfeit airbags/components provided as cheap knockoffs. Also criminalizes the sale of a car or truck that has a non-operational airbag. (I was a decided NO vote as this requirement is an abuse of government police power). This bill is in Senate Judiciary and Rules, where hopefully it will die.
HB700 - Creates a misdemeanor penalty for anyone who knowingly hires or continues to employ an illegal immigrant in the State of Idaho. Encourages use of the federal E-verify system. This bill is sitting in Senate State Affairs where it most likely will die.
HB704 - Requires the use of E-verify as part of the terms of employment for anyone hiring within the state. Also prohibits the employment of illegal immigrants within the State of Idaho. This bill is also sitting in Senate State Affairs where it most likely will die.
*Note: In multiple polls conducted, Idahoans overwhelmingly support immigration reform. This is a step in the right direction, in-keeping with Trumps MAGA agenda.
And today, the House is voting on SB1331, the recission bill that codifies the $192.6M in cuts in keeping with the 3% reduction in Agency spending that Gov. Brad Little mandated last fall. This is actually a 5% cut in spending for the remainder of FY2026.
Lastly, HB 757, is one of my CPS reform bills that define Medical Neglect and affirm the rights of parents or guardians in making the determination of how and what type of medical care their child receives, is waiting for a full hearing in Health and Welfare committee where the public can provide testimony in favor of why this bill is so badly needed.
As a side note, if you have questions about a particular bill, please feel free to email me at LCayler@house.idaho.gov, and submit your question or concern with these or any bills and I would be happy to help answer your questions.
For Liberty & Justice,
Lucas Cayler
State Representative D-11
Thank you for the updates, Rep. Cayler. A few good results, many disappointments.
Way too many bills! No one can follow or correctly analyze more than 528 (and counting) bills each session. We actually tried! No lobbyists, no money backing, just some help from AI to parse dense unreadable numbered text.
Sending so many bills to die in committees in a sneaky game of political musical chairs is wrong. Why print bills at all if they’ll just be put into the ash heap of oblivion (aka chairman’s drawer)?
We’ve been disappointed and disillusioned with Idaho politics since arriving in this state several years ago, hoping that Idaho would uphold fiscal responsibility and constitutional rights. Instead, Idaho seems to be moving ever left toward its spendthrift, regulation-crazy coastal neighbors in OR, CA, and WA (with a few notable exceptions). While Idaho is better than most states, the trend is looking down, not up.
That said, we remain grateful that you and others in the Gang of Eight have upheld conservative principles as much as humanly possible. Thank you!
Thank you