Legislative update

2026 session recap

By Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle
Reader Contributor

The 2026 legislative session adjourned for the year on April 2. As expected, developing the annual budget was the dominant topic this year. It was expected because the prior year brought the fifth income tax cut in eight years, lowering our income tax rate from 7.4% in 2017 to 5.3% in 2025. 

The effect of those five cuts, which reduced the income tax rate by a total of 2.1%, is more than $1 billion staying in the hands of Idaho taxpayers. The effect is also more than $1 billion not available for services the state provides: public safety, education and transportation, to name a few.

I have always been supportive of tax cuts. We all want to minimize our tax burden. 

In the time I’ve served you in the Idaho Senate, I have voted for two income tax cuts, three tax rebates, an increase to the homeowner’s property tax exemption and increased property tax relief. All these votes became law and we all saw the benefits. 

In 2025, I voted against the income tax cut. I thought we were getting out over our ski-tips, which proved true. We spent this legislative session applying band-aids and temporary fixes to what was formerly a budget process admired nationwide.

What is an appropriate level of state spending? I believe it is an amount that matches economic activity in the state. Looking back 10 years, our economic activity has grown 95%, from an annual Gross State Product of $66 billion to $129 billion. Over that same time, our state spending has gone from $2.9 billion to $5.2 billion, an increase of 76.5%. 

With nearly a 20% mismatch between economic growth and state spending, the conclusion is either we are getting more efficient; producing more with less overhead; or we are not investing adequately in our roads, schools and public safety. 

When I drive our highways, I don’t see as many troopers and I have time to think about that because I am waiting to get on an overly congested road. My conclusion is that we aren’t keeping up with Idaho’s growth. I am not advocating for increased government spending. I am advocating for basic services at traditional levels to make sure we are safe and to maintain our quality of life as we grow.

Senate Bill 1379 was my effort to raise trooper pay. It passed through the Senate easily on a 28-7 vote, but never received a committee bill hearing in the House. Late in the session, the Legislature did provide some additional funding for ISP, but part of the money was taken from our counties. This approach will reduce funding for our courts and local law enforcement. It simply shifted the problem.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation has created unwillingness on the part of many legislators to increase spending in any manner. It is time to move past their mantra of zero additional dollars and instead budget based on economic activity, before we find ourselves a lawless society traveling on dirt roads.

Meanwhile, we did pass a number of new laws to better fit today’s Idaho. 

House Bill 629 allows for electronic vehicle registration documents to replace the piece of paper in your glovebox, and H.B. 533 removes the requirement for vehicle registration stickers on your license plate. You will still renew just the same, but you won’t get stickers. Finally, H.B. 577 removes the requirement to get new license plates every 10 years. If they are still in good condition, you can keep using them.

Hunting is now officially the state sport (H.B. 652). With that, eligibility for lifetime Idaho hunting and fishing licenses now requires five years of Idaho residency (H.B. 855).

H.B. 785 defines what constitutes inappropriate online behavior by a student toward a public school employee or other person, and provides disciplinary measures.

In Idaho, parents can teach their own children how to drive, although there were restrictions. H.B. 628 allows parents to teach their children how to drive without the previous restrictions. Independent testing is still required.

H.B. 573 allows an NRA-certified instructor, or equivalent, with eight years experience to provide firearms instruction for an enhanced concealed carry permit.

S.B. 1227 deals with artificial intelligence in our K-12 education system. The new law tasks the State Department of Education with developing a statewide framework for responsible use of AI in public schools. The law also requires school districts adopt a local AI policy.

I am happy to discuss the 2026 legislative session at any time. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the community.

Jim Woodward is the Dist. 1 Republican senator from Sagle. He serves on the Joint Finance-Appropriations (vice-chair) and Education committees. Reach him during the session at 208-332-1349 (Statehouse). Out of session, call 208-946-7963 (home) or email [email protected].