Senate passes wildfire mitigation 'standard of care' bill after contentious debate over damages and liability

The Idaho Senate passed Senate Bill 11‑83, the Wildfire Mitigation Standard of Care Act, on a 24‑11 vote after extended floor debate over liability, damages and whether the measure protects utilities at the expense of individual claimants.

Senator Woodward, the bill sponsor, said the proposal aims to "preserve our safe, reliable, and affordable power" by defining a standard of care and requiring utilities — investor‑owned, municipal and cooperative — to submit wildfire mitigation plans to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for review. Woodward described changes made since earlier drafts: greater collaboration with the State Forester, notice to counties and fire districts within five business days of a plan filing, and simplification of the liability section from "substantial…