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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho House Bill 709 restricts programmable money and establishes consumer transaction rights
Last action · February 17, 2026: Reported Printed and Referred to Business
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What This Bill Proposed
Idaho House Bill 709 prohibits currency issuers from enforcing automated transaction restrictions, discriminatory blocks, or s using . The measure creates civil remedies and misdemeanor penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, taking effect July 1, 2026.
Financial institutions and currency creators face civil lawsuits, mandatory attorney fee awards, and potential revocation of their state business license if they deny transactions based on political opinions, firearm purchases, or religious affiliations.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Consumers
Consumers gain statutory rights to request denial explanations, avoid forced digital currencies without non-digital options, and file civil lawsuits for discriminatory transaction blocks.
Issuers of programmable money
Issuers must alter their coding and compliance procedures to prevent automated transaction denials based on prohibited factors and must respond to denial inquiries within 30 days.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is programmable money under this bill?
What penalties do issuers face for violating these rules?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 17, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to Business
- Feb 16, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Consumer Payment Rights Chapter
The bill amends Title 28 to insert an entirely new chapter establishing specific civil and criminal penalties for discriminatory programmable money applications.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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