House State Affairs committee sends HB 83 to the floor after debate over state immigration enforcement

The House State Affairs Committee voted to send House Bill 83 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation after sponsors and witnesses described the measure as aimed at allowing state and local law enforcement to coordinate with federal authorities to address illegal entry and criminal conduct.

Representative Jaren Crane, the sponsor, and his co‑sponsor — identified in committee as Representative Skogg — said HB 83 was modeled on a Texas measure and revised after meetings with industry groups. Crane described the bill's purpose "to give our state and local law enforcement agencies the ability to work with the Trump administration and the federal agents in order to curtail this issue." He said the sponsors met with "the Home Builders Group as well as the Dairyman" on friendly amendments.

Bruce Scott (identified in the record as representing District 10) provided a statutory reading of the bill's enforcement language, directing members to line 29: "law enforcement officers may enforce the provisions of this section only when a person is detained or investigated for suspected commission of an independent crime. Independent ... simply means not the crime of illegal entry or being illegally in the state of Idaho or The United States." Scott framed the provision as limiting enforcement to persons suspected of other crimes rather than routine infractions.

Committee discussion focused on that "may" language and on federal preemption. Representative Barbieri asked whether an officer could require proof of citizenship during an infraction stop; sponsors said the bill does not create that authority. Representative Achilles raised constitutional concerns and the supremacy clause, asking whether Idaho could be exposed to litigation; sponsors said they believe their draft has differences from the Texas law and may survive legal challenge, but acknowledged private lawsuits were possible.

Public testimony included pro‑bill statements from Bob Narrevelt, identified as a government‑affairs director for an industry association, Daniel Murphy of Boise, and Sheriff Bob Norris of Kootenai County. Murphy said HB 83 "allows law enforcement the tools to investigate, detain subject, suspects who might be here illegally." Sheriff Norris testified in support, saying the bill "will give local law enforcement another tool in our toolbox."

Sponsor testimony included fiscal estimates. Representative Crane described a supplemental initial appropriation of $250,000 and an ongoing FY2026 general‑fund appropriation of $1,000,000 for implementation; he cited incarceration cost figures and a transportation provider called Northstar with an estimated $4,500 per transfer and said the sponsors used a $40,000 per‑person estimate in some calculations. Crane said their total projected costs for certain enforcement and extradition scenarios totaled about $545,675.66, below the $1,000,000 ongoing appropriation figure.

Representative Alfieri moved to send HB 83 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The committee approved the motion by voice vote and recorded Representative Achilles and Representative Kasner as voting no on the record. The committee chair said, "The motion is carried, it will be done."