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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho Establishes Soil and Water Conservation Commission within Water Resources Department
Last action · March 20, 2026: Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2026 Session Law Chapter 58 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
Idaho law relocates the state soil and water conservation commission to the Department of Water Resources, establishes a seven-member appointed body with staggered five-year terms, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
The measure shifts administrative oversight of state conservation programs and grants to a different agency, altering how local soil districts coordinate state funding and technical assistance starting July 1, 2026.
- The Idaho State Soil and Water Conservation Commission was previously housed under the Idaho Department of Agriculture. 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 state soil and water conservation commission
The commission is relocated to the Department of Water Resources and continues its nonregulatory duties and administrative responsibilities.
Soil conservation districts
Districts receive assistance, coordination, and program support from the relocated commission.
Private forest, rangeland, and agricultural landowners
Landowners cooperate with the commission on conservation improvements and cost-share opportunities.
Key Facts
- The Idaho state soil and water conservation commission is established within the Department of Water Resources as a nonregulatory agency.
- The commission consists of seven members appointed by the governor from specific divisions and one at-large member.
- Commissioner terms are set for five years, with initial terms after July 1, 2022, ranging from two to four years depending on the district.
- All gubernatorial appointments to the commission require confirmation by the senate.
Show all 8 facts
- The commission must report annually to the senate agricultural affairs committee and the house agricultural affairs committee on or before March 1.
- The commission administers funds for the resource conservation and rangeland development fund and general funds appropriated by the legislature.
- Information provided through the Idaho OnePlan computer-based conservation planning process is confidential and exempt from public disclosure under section 74-107, Idaho Code.
- The act declares an emergency and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state department now houses the soil and water conservation commission?
How many members serve on the commission and how are they chosen?
When does the commission have to report to the legislature?
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- Mar 20, 2026EnrolledReported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2026 Session Law Chapter 58 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Mar 19, 2026Delivered to Governor at 4:22 p.m. on March 18, 2026
- Mar 18, 2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
- Mar 18, 2026Signed by President; returned to House
- Mar 18, 2026Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
- Mar 17, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 12 earlier actions
- Mar 17, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Mar 16, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0 AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woller(Rabe), Woodward, Zito, Zuiderveld NAYS – None Absent and excused – None Floor Sponsor - Harris Title apvd - to House
- Mar 10, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Mar 9, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Feb 23, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: Resources & Environment
- Feb 23, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Feb 20, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 67-0-3 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – None Absent – Crane(13), Shepherd, Wheeler Floor Sponsor - Manwaring Title apvd - to Senate
- Feb 19, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Feb 18, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Feb 17, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Jan 21, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to Agricultural Affairs
- Jan 20, 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.
Administrative Relocation of Conservation Commission
The commission is officially moved from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Water Resources.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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