ICL Legislative Update: Week #4 and we are rolling along

The pace definitely picked up in week 4 as bill introductions continued. Some bills are beginning to receive hearings in committees, while others may be dead on arrival. Budget concerns continue, especially as the JFAC Chairs present to each standing committee, where they are challenging committee culture and procedures. Some of the areas of concern for the ICL Government Affairs team include wildlife, public lands, wildfire mitigation, and water. We expect many more pieces of legislation and remain vigilant by talking with partners, legislators, and agency staff both within the Statehouse and among agencies and nonprofits.

Idaho Environmental Policy Forum

The Idaho Environmental Policy Forum convened Tuesday, bringing policymakers, agency leaders, NGOs, and the public together for a focused, high-level discussion of the environmental issues shaping this legislative session. Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke opened the forum, followed by panels on Shared Stewardship and Recreation and targeted presentations from IEF board members on wildfire-driven insurance challenges, public lands, and mining.

Senator Burtenshaw (R-Terreton) and Representative Mendive (R-Coeur d’Alene) addressed a broad slate of issues, including public lands, mining, quagga mussels, chronic wasting disease, water, and agriculture. One message cut through clearly: recreation dominated the conversation, driving the majority of audience questions and underscoring its growing influence in Idaho’s environmental and policy debates.

Legislative Reception

We kicked off the week by hosting our annual legislative reception Monday evening at Beside Bardenay - thank you to everyone who attended! The event brought together ICL staff and board members, legislators, conservation partners, and supporters for an engaging and energetic night of connection and conversation.

The atmosphere was relaxed, productive, and purposeful—creating space for meaningful dialogue. This includes lawmakers with whom we don’t regularly engage. If you missed it this year, don’t worry: this reception is a staple, and we’ll be back next year!

Public Lands

Public lands remain front and center for ICL at the Statehouse following Senator Ben Adams’ (R-Nampa) introduction of a constitutional amendment in SJR 102. The past week brought intense discussions with a broad range of stakeholders, interest groups and partner organizations focused on who owns Idaho’s public lands—and who controls their future.

We expect Senator Adams to reintroduce his amendment this week with revisions, though the scope and intent of those changes remain unclear. In addition, Representative Britt Raybould (R-Rexburg) is expected to introduce a separate constitutional amendment addressing public lands management in the coming weeks.

As these proposals take shape, we are scrutinizing every development, with timely updates shared through our Bill Tracker.

Pesticides

While no Idaho-specific legislation has surfaced yet, we are staying on high alert. Our team continues to ask hard questions, closely monitor developments in other states, and meet weekly with our national coalition to track emerging threats and strategies.

Activity elsewhere is accelerating. In Kansas, HB 2476—framed as a “labeling” bill rather than a liability shield—would allow foreign pesticide manufacturers to knowingly conceal risks linked to birth defects, infertility, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. The bill is moving quickly along party lines, with Republicans in support and Democrats opposed. Similar efforts are advancing in Tennessee and Florida, and related cases are making their way toward the U.S. Supreme Court.

While some argue that this issue won’t reach Idaho during the 2026 session, the scale of Bayer’s settlement payments suggests otherwise. We are not waiting to find out. Take Action alerts are live, and we are actively preparing to respond if—and when—this threat emerges here.

Wildlife

Last week, a wave of wildlife-related bills and memorials landed at the Statehouse, and we are already evaluating their consequences. Most notable is House Bill 536, a deeply concerning proposal that would label any mammal that feeds on or damages livestock, crops, natural grasses, or soil on public or private land as an “agricultural pest.” The bill authorizes individuals to take “all steps deemed necessary” to control these animals. We strongly oppose this effort as the language seemingly classifies elk grazing on public lands as “pests.”

Additional wildlife-related rules, bills, and memorials have been proposed. While some of these measures are still early in the process, several raise questions about wildlife policy, management authority, and long-term impacts on Idaho’s fish and wildlife. We are watching closely and will respond accordingly.

Idaho Department of Lands Meeting

The ICL Conservation team met directly with Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller to raise important issues, including a public lands constitutional amendment introduced in the Idaho Legislature, the Valley County land exchange with United Payette’s participation, and other pressing concerns. The team made clear ICL’s priorities and expectations and left the meeting confident that Director Miller understands the urgency of these issues and is prepared to engage with ICL as this work moves forward.

McCall.

Conservation Groups Support Potential Valley County Land Exchange

In 2020, the Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service began discussions on a potential land exchange involving state endowment lands along Payette and Little Payette Lakes. The proposal has strong grassroots support, reflected in the fact that 91% of county residents express concern about the land’s future and want it conserved and closed to future development.

United Payette—a coalition of county residents and state and local organizations—helped lead the conversation by launching a public survey. The results showed that 66% of Valley County residents support the concept of a land exchange. Idahoans have been clear in their opposition to wealthy landowners acquiring property only to restrict public access.

Moving forward, United Payette is sharing the survey results with stakeholders, media outlets, and, eventually, the Nez Perce Tribe and service organizations. As Valley County continues to grow, preserving open space becomes increasingly important, particularly given that public and publicly accessible lands make up roughly 60% of the county.

Alex’s Analysis:

Last week made it increasingly clear that there are political dynamics at play beneath the surface, suggesting the full picture is far more complex than what a brand new, temporary fellow can readily see. Coming from outside the legislative and political world, navigating these dynamics has brought a fair amount of uncertainty and hesitation. Even so, I have tried not to let that shape how I approach conversations and meetings.

I have continued to be candid and transparent in my discussions, offering honest reasoning about why I, and the Idaho Conservation League, approach certain issues the way we do. That approach may feel somewhat naive at times, but I remain hopeful that being direct and open creates space for more genuine and productive dialogue. In practice, it often has.

Despite moments that occasionally feel reminiscent of my least favorite parts of middle school, I genuinely enjoy this work and my role at ICL. Reading, researching, and analyzing are among my favorite things to do, and pairing that with thoughtful conversation and discourse feels close to a dream role for me. Being able to do both in service of conservation makes the work feel meaningful, even when the process itself is messy.

Listen of the Week 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dWMOVZPC3GY

With the ongoing conversations around public lands and the many interests involved, our Listen of the Week offers a comedic yet poignant reminder from Nick Offerman about the importance and nuance of protecting public lands.