Committee advances short‑term rental preemption bill after hours of testimony for and against

Senate Bill 1162, sponsored in committee by Senator Brian Lenny (District 13), drew extended testimony and questions at the March 20, 2025 Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee hearing. The bill would clarify state law classifying short‑term rentals as residential use, prohibit local rules that effectively ban short‑term rentals, limit excessive fees, require disclosures about certain safety items, and provide a three‑strikes enforcement framework for problem properties.

Proponent Representative Jordan Redmond (District 3) described the bill as “a balanced solution” to clarify the 2017 law and to protect property owners from “local overreach.” Redmond said, “11 62 provides a 3 strikes and you're out for standard problems in in rentals,” and that the bill “clarifies that all STR properties are subject to all other city and county ordinances and penalties that apply to residential use.”

Opponents — primarily local officials from resort and tourism communities — urged the committee to preserve local authority to adopt stricter public‑safety rules. Jade Riley, city administrator for Ketchum and spokesperson for the Idaho Resort Cities Coalition, asked the committee “not to support this…