House Business Committee introduces several bills on licensing, title insurance and virtual inspections

BOISE, Idaho — The House Business Committee introduced a package of legislative requests (RSs) on Tuesday that would change rules on mortgage solicitation, married persons’ ability to sell sole-and-separate property, state title-insurance policy, occupational-licensing reporting, licensing-board finances, electrician reciprocity and virtual inspections. Committee members moved to introduce each RS and the motions carried on voice votes.

The measures were presented one at a time and most drew limited debate; the committee voted to introduce each RS so the proposal can receive a formal hearing at a later date. Several presenters said subject-matter experts will appear if the committee grants a full hearing.

Representative Bruce presented RS32003, described as a privacy measure aimed at mortgage-trigger leads. Representative Bruce said: "This bill seeks to amend chapter 31 title 26 of Idaho code by adding a new section 26 dash 31 to 11 a aimed at enhancing consumer privacy in the mortgage applications." He told the committee the measure would define "mortgage trigger lead" and prohibit certain solicitation practices; it would require callers who purchased leads to tell consumers they are not the consumer's current lender and that they purchased the lead. The committee voted to introduce RS32003.

Representative John Shirts introduced RS31937, a proposal that would amend a provision of Idaho law cited in the presentation as "Bridal code section 50 five-one thousand and 7," to allow a married person to sell or encumber property they individually own as sole-and-separate property without requiring a spouse’s consent. Shirts said the measure is intended to address situations in divorce or other circumstances where one spouse can effectively block transfers of sole-and-separate property; he said it would not change community-property statutes or affect proceeds distribution. The motion to introduce RS31937 passed.

Representative Shirts also presented RS31939, a concurrent-resolution-style RS described as supporting Idaho’s state-based title-insurance regulatory system and opposing federal encroachment on that system. Shirts characterized the measure as a federalism resolution and the committee voted to introduce it.

Representative Jaren Crane presented RS31955, aimed at changing occupational-licensing reporting requirements. Crane said the RS would repeal and replace the existing statutory reporting provision cited in the presentation as "section 67 94 0 7 Idaho code" to establish new, regular reporting requirements for state agencies that act as licensing authorities. Crane told the committee the change is intended to "enhance transparency and accountability" and that most licensing boards already report similar information voluntarily. The motion to introduce RS31955 carried.

Representative Jeff Ehlers presented RS32142, which he said would require licensing boards with large or unusually low cash balances to submit plans and quarterly reports so the Legislature can monitor revenues and expenditures; the bill would also permit an individual board to implement a temporary fee holiday if it holds excess cash. Ehlers described the measure as technical fixes and implementation of concepts from last year’s House Bill 505. The committee voted to introduce RS32142.

Representative Kyle Harris presented RS32160, a drafting by Representative Wheeler concerning electrical licensing. Harris said the bill would arrange for journeyman credentials to be issued along with a master electrician license so former journeymen who obtain a master license retain a credential that supports interstate reciprocity. A committee member asked about a fee line in the draft on page three; Harris said he did not have the fee-detail answer and that Representative Wheeler would need to clarify. The committee moved to introduce RS32160 and the motion carried.

Representative Raybould presented RS32162, a proposal allowing local governments to authorize certain "virtual" or visual inspections — with limitations — to reduce scheduling delay for finish, cover or other inspections that do not require in-person structural review. Raybould said the RS would prohibit virtual structural inspections for buildings over three stories and leave implementation to local governments. Representative Crane expressed concern about liability and the possibility that no physical inspector would ever visit a site, saying it "bothers me that the contractor has to get an inspection from a city or county or state and then the contractor still holds the liability." Raybould said the RS was intended to speed inspections and provide accountability; the committee voted to introduce RS32162.

The chair said the committee will meet again Friday and expects a hearing on a bill and two RSs related to wildfire mitigation if the Legislative Services Office returns drafts on time.

Votes at a glance

- RS32003 (mortgage-trigger-lead consumer privacy): motion to introduce by Representative Crane; motion carries (voice vote; tally not specified).

- RS31937 (allow sale/encumbrance of sole-and-separate property without spouse consent): motion to introduce by Representative Crane; motion carries (voice vote; tally not specified).

- RS31939 (support for state-based title-insurance regulation): motion to introduce by Representative Crane; motion carries (voice vote; tally not specified).

- RS31955 (occupational-licensing reporting requirements): motion to introduce by Representative Redmond; motion carries (voice vote; tally not specified).

- RS32142 (licensing-board financial plans, quarterly reporting, fee-holiday tool): motion to introduce by Representative Crane; motion carries (voice vote; tally not specified).

- RS32160 (electrical licensing — journeyman credential with master license for reciprocity): motion to introduce by Representative Rasor; motion carries (voice vote; tally not specified).

- RS32162 (authorizing virtual inspections for certain work, local-option, excludes structural inspections over three stories): motion to introduce by Representative Palmer; motion carries (voice vote; tally not specified).

What happens next

Each RS was introduced for the purpose of receiving a formal hearing and possible amendment. Presenters indicated subject-matter experts are likely to appear if the committee grants full hearings. Several presenters said implementation details — including exact fee-line questions (RS32160) and technical title or escrow explanations (RS31937) — will be clarified by witnesses at a later hearing.