Bill > H0748

This bill amends Idaho's Public Records Act to create a new, expedited process for individuals who believe their request for public records has been improperly denied or that the charges for disclosure are unfair. Under this new process, an aggrieved person can file a complaint in magistrate court within 90 days of the agency's response, providing the original request, the agency's response, and all related communications, along with the legal basis for their challenge, and paying a $100 filing fee. The agency then has 14 days to respond, and the judge must issue a decision within 14 days of receiving the agency's response, with no discovery or witnesses allowed for this initial complaint. The bill also revises existing provisions for appealing denial of disclosure requests, including a shorter timeframe for appeals related to trade secret claims made to the Department of Environmental Quality, and clarifies a code reference within the existing law. Finally, the bill declares an emergency and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Government Affairs

Ways and Means Committee (House)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0748/