Bill > H0607

This bill establishes new laws in Idaho concerning privacy and safety in public restrooms and changing facilities, defining "changing facility" as any area where someone might be undressed around others, and "place of public accommodation" as any business or facility open to the public. For government buildings, it mandates that multi-occupancy restrooms and changing facilities must be designated for use by males or females only, and individuals must use the facility corresponding to their sex, with exceptions for single-occupancy facilities, family use, medical assistance, law enforcement, and emergencies; it also creates a cause of action allowing individuals to sue a government entity for $10,000 per instance if they encounter someone of the opposite sex in a designated facility due to the entity's permission or failure to act, plus damages for harm and attorney fees. For places of public accommodation, it imposes a duty to take reasonable steps to protect the privacy and safety of individuals from members of the opposite sex in restrooms and changing facilities, with similar exceptions to those for government buildings, and makes these establishments liable for damages, including psychological, emotional, and physical harm, if they breach this duty, though they are not liable if the privacy violation occurred because an individual entered a facility designated for the opposite sex. Both parts of the bill include provisions for reasonable accommodations that do not violate others' privacy and state that these laws preempt any conflicting local regulations, with certain limitations such as not applying to public schools or specific covered entities.

Government Affairs

State Affairs Committee (House)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0607/