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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho Senate Bill 1300 grants the governor direct appointment power over agency directors
Last action · April 1, 2026: Signed by Governor on 04/01/26 Session Law Chapter 267 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
The Governor of Idaho is now empowered to directly appoint the directors of the Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Transportation Department, and the Department of Parks and Recreation, subject to Senate confirmation. Previously, these directors were appointed directly by their respective agency boards. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026.
Shifts executive authority over three major state natural resource and infrastructure agencies from independent citizen boards to the governor, altering how leadership is selected and confirmed.
- Idaho executive agency directors have historically been appointed by independent citizen boards or commissions rather than directly by the governor. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Idaho Governor
Gains the authority to appoint directors for the Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Transportation Department, and Department of Parks and Recreation.
Idaho State Senate
Must provide advice and consent for the newly established gubernatorial appointments of agency directors.
Department of Fish and Game
The appointment method for its director is changed from board selection to gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation.
Key Facts
- The governor shall appoint the director of the Department of Fish and Game, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
- The governor shall appoint the director of the Idaho Transportation Department, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
- The governor shall appoint the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
- Any director appointed on or before July 1, 2026, shall be considered for confirmation by the Senate at the first regular session of the sixty-ninth Idaho legislature.
Show all 9 facts
- Unconfirmed appointments made while the Senate is in session or adjourned become void if the Senate adjourns without granting consent.
- The act becomes effective on July 1, 2026.
- The Department of Fish and Game director is authorized to establish fish hatcheries and manage wildlife resources under the commission's direction.
- The Idaho Transportation Department shall establish an office of the chief engineer who must be a registered professional engineer.
- The park and recreation board shall adopt a merit system for all employees of the department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who appoints the directors of Fish and Game, Transportation, and Parks and Recreation under this law?
When does this act take effect?
What happens if the Senate adjourns without confirming an appointment?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
18 actions- Apr 1, 2026EnrolledSigned by Governor on 04/01/26 Session Law Chapter 267 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Mar 27, 2026Reported delivered to Governor at 3:48 p.m. on 03/26/26
- Mar 26, 2026Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor
- Mar 26, 2026Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
- Mar 25, 2026Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
- Mar 25, 2026CommitteeReturned From House Passed; referred to enrolling
Show 12 earlier actions
- Mar 24, 2026FloorRules Suspended: Ayes 67 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 3, read in full as required – PASSED - 41-29-0 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Hall(Stone), Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Pickett, Price, Rasor, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – Berch, Bingham, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Egbert, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Handy, Haws, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mickelsen, Nelsen, Petzke, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Veile, Weber, Wheeler Absent – None Floor Sponsor - Pickett Title apvd - to Senate
- Mar 24, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Mar 23, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 3, 2026IntroducedRead First Time, Referred to State Affairs
- Mar 3, 2026Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 2, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 21-14-0 AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Bruner(Adams), Carlson, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, Zito, Zuiderveld NAYS – Burtenshaw, Cook, Grow, Guthrie, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward Absent and excused – None Floor Sponsor - Okuniewicz Title apvd - to House
- Mar 2, 2026Retained on calendar
- Mar 2, 2026Retained on calendar
- Feb 25, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Feb 24, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Feb 17, 2026CommitteeReported Printed; referred to State Affairs
- Feb 16, 2026IntroducedIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR 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.
Centralization of Executive Appointments
The legislation removes board appointment authority for three major state agencies and replaces it with gubernatorial appointments subject to Senate confirmation.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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