Senate State Affairs committee sends multiple draft measures to print, introduces Idaho ICE Act

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee on Wednesday voted to send several request‑to‑print (RS) measures to the printer and introduced a proposal described by its sponsor as the "Idaho Immigration, Cooperation and Enforcement Act," or "Idaho ICE Act." The committee approved the minutes from Jan. 22 and Jan. 24 and advanced six RS items for drafting.

The most prominent proposal presented was identified in the meeting as RS 32,110 and described by its sponsor as legislation to "enact the new Idaho Immigration, Cooperation and Enforcement Act, or in other words, the Idaho ICE Act." The sponsor said the bill is focused on identifying, detaining and removing noncitizens in Idaho who are in the country illegally and who are alleged to be dangerous. The sponsor also described three substantive elements: creating (1) a crime of unlawful presence of a dangerous illegal alien in Idaho, (2) a crime of smuggling a dangerous illegal alien in Idaho, and (3) a sentencing enhancement of five years to a prison term for any illegal alien who commits a dangerous crime in the state. The committee voted to send RS 32,110 to print (motion to send to print moved by Sen. Harris; seconded by Sen. Taves).

The committee also sent to print RS 32,097, a measure presented by Sen. Dan Foreman that would add a statute stating the state "shall not be compelled to engage in the enforcement of requirements or mandates issued by the World Health Organization." Foreman said the bill was revised after review by the Idaho attorney general's office to avoid federal supremacy‑clause conflicts and instead would bar the use of state resources to enforce WHO mandates, leaving enforcement to the federal government. Foreman noted that Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador joined 21 other state attorneys general in a May 2024 letter opposing possible WHO changes to international health rules; he also referenced a 2025 U.S. assessment figure cited in the meeting of more than $261,000,000 paid to the WHO. The motion to send RS 32,097 to print was moved by Sen. Den Hartog and seconded by Sen. Harris.

Tracy Shaner, deputy chief administrator for the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, presented RS 31,775, which she said consists of technical corrections to Idaho Code section 66‑0906 to align that provision with the recently revised Title 14, Chapter 5 (the state—s unclaimed property law) enacted in 2024. Shaner described the proposal as changing an incorrect code reference and removing contradictory language; the committee voted to send RS 31,775 to print (motion by Sen. Harris, second by Sen. Den Hartog).

Sen. Doug O'Connellwitz presented RS 31,986, a joint resolution to increase the number of legislative districts subject to a 6% signature threshold when placing measures before voters from 18 districts to 35 districts. The committee voted to send RS 31,986 to print (motion by Sen. Anthon, second by Sen. Berndt); during the voice vote a nay was acknowledged and a senator asked to be recorded against the motion.

Sen. Berndt presented RS 32,086, described as cleanup language tying up rules previously approved by departments and agencies; the committee voted to send that RS to print (motion moved by Sen. Den Hartog, seconded by Sen. Harris).

Committee members approved two sets of minutes without discussion: minutes of Jan. 22, 2025 (moved by Sen. Den Hartog, second by Sen. Anton) and Jan. 24, 2025 (moved by Sen. Toews, second by Sen. Harris).

Appointments and nominations: the committee heard from Joe Forney, the governor's nominee for reappointment to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board. Forney introduced himself, described his military service, business background and prior service on the board, and answered several questions from senators about board operations and market conditions. Committee members did not vote on Forney's reappointment at the meeting; the chair said the committee will consider a confirmation vote at a future meeting.

Discussion vs. action: most RS presentations in the hearing were introductory and technical in nature; the committee's actions at the meeting were to send the RS items to print for drafting rather than to adopt final language. The record shows questions and brief exchanges on the content of certain RS items (for example, the sponsor's description of new criminal offenses and sentencing terms in the immigration measure, and the veterans' measure's alignment to the unclaimed property code), but no final statutory enactments were passed at this meeting.

What comes next: each RS sent to print will be drafted into bill text and return to the committee for subsequent hearings, amendment and possible votes. The committee also will schedule a future meeting to consider the nomination of Joe Forney to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board.