House Business Committee introduces a package of RS measures on mortgage privacy, property sales, licensing and virtual inspections

The Idaho House Business Committee on Feb. 5, 2025, voted to introduce several RS measures addressing consumer privacy in mortgage applications, rules for sale of sole-and-separate property by married people, state title-insurance policy, reporting for occupational licensing authorities, licensing-board financial controls, electrician licensing reciprocity and authorizing local governments to permit virtual building inspections.

The measures were introduced by committee members and sponsoring representatives and were advanced by voice vote without recorded roll-call tallies. Committee Chair Clow opened the meeting and the motions to introduce each RS were made and carried in order.

Representative Bruce introduced RS32003, which the statement of purpose describes as an amendment to “chapter 31 title 26 of Idaho code” creating a new section to address so-called mortgage “trigger leads.” Representative Bruce said the proposal would define the term mortgage trigger lead and “outline prohibited practices regarding the solicitation of consumer[s] based on these leads.” He told the committee the measure would require solicitors who contact recent mortgage applicants to state that they are not the applicant’s current lender and that they purchased the lead, a change he said would reduce consumer confusion. He also noted the issue has been addressed at the federal level by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) but said the RS would add state-level clarification and disclosure requirements.

Representative John Shirts introduced RS31937, described in his remarks as an amendment to “Bridal code section 50 five-one thousand and 7” to permit a married person to sell or encumber property they own as sole and separate property without spouse consent. Shirts said the RS is intended to prevent situations in which a spouse could “hold hostage” the sale of sole-and-separate property, and he asked the committee to introduce the RS and schedule a full hearing where a title-expert would testify. Representative Shirts also introduced RS31939, a house concurrent resolution that he described as a federalism statement supporting the existing state-based system of title insurance regulation and opposing federal preemption.

Representative Jaren Crane presented RS31955, a proposal to repeal and replace reporting language (transcribed as section “67 94 0 7 Idaho code”) and to require enhanced annual reporting from state agencies that serve as licensing authorities. Crane said the change aims to increase transparency and accountability and told the committee the additional reporting imposes no fiscal impact on the state budget because many boards already provide similar information voluntarily under prior executive-order reporting frameworks.

Representative Jeff Ehlers introduced RS32142, which he said would require licensing boards to prepare plans where cash reserves are at either extreme (for example, boards holding multiple years of cash versus low or negative cash), require quarterly reporting of revenue and expenditures, and create a tool that allows a board with excess cash to implement a fee holiday for licensees. Ehlers said the RS also includes technical code cleanups from last year’s House Bill 505.

Representative Kyle Harris presented RS32160, described as a change to electrical licensing that would ensure when a journeyman becomes a master electrician the licensee also receives a journeyman card to preserve interstate reciprocity. Harris said several states have reciprocity arrangements for journeymen but not for master-only cards; he presented the RS on behalf of Representative Wheeler and did not have a numeric answer at the meeting when asked about the fee language on page 3 of the draft.

Representative Raybould (presenting for Representative Wheeler) introduced RS32162 to allow local governments to authorize virtual or visual inspections in building-permit workflows, with safety limits such as a prohibition on conducting structural inspections virtually for buildings taller than three stories. Raybould said the measure is intended to reduce inspection delays and associated contractor costs and to allow inspectors to clear minor outstanding items more quickly. During discussion, Representative Crane and others raised concerns about liability and whether virtual inspections might be overused so that an inspector never visits a site; Crane said he would vote to introduce the RS but may press for changes at a full hearing to address public-safety assurances.

All RS introductions were advanced by motion and voice vote without recorded roll-call tallies. Committee leadership announced the committee will meet again on Friday for one RS and one bill hearing, and that committee members will go to the House floor the next day.