Bill > H0307

This bill adds a new section to Idaho election law that empowers the Secretary of State to investigate false claims made about candidates during election campaigns. Specifically, any candidate who believes false information has been published about them can report the claim to the Secretary of State, who is then obligated to investigate. If the Secretary of State determines the claim is verifiably false, they must give the publishing party either seven days to respond (if the finding is made more than two weeks before an election) or 48 hours to respond (if the finding is made within two weeks of an election). After receiving a response, the Secretary of State is required to post their findings on their official website by the end of the next business day. The bill also defines "publish" broadly to include communication through telephone, radio, television, internet, or any form of writing. The law is set to go into effect on July 1, 2025, and is declared to be an emergency measure, which allows for immediate implementation upon passage.

Government Affairs

State Affairs Committee (H)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0307/