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H 651IDAHOSession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Idaho House Bill 651 Reassesses Big Game Depredation Claims and Fund Payout Rules

Original title: DEPREDATION CLAIMS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the payment of depredation claims.

Last action · February 13, 2026: Reported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Idaho House Bill 651 revises the administration and payout rules for the Expendable Big Game Fund, establishing a $125,000 annual aggregate cap per claimant, setting a $750 per-occurrence deductible, and authorizing immediate partial payouts of approved claims.

Why it matters

Property owners and agricultural lessees seeking compensation for wildlife damage face new per-claim deductibles, strict annual payout caps, and staged claim disbursements directly affecting their net reimbursements.

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.

Directly affected

Agricultural property owners and lessees

Property owners and lessees filing wildlife damage claims are subject to new per-occurrence deductibles, annual payment caps, and staged disbursement schedules.

Directly affected

Department of Fish and Game

The department's director is tasked with ordering immediate claim payouts, certifying statutory requirements, encumbering funds, and managing depredation controls.

Directly affected

State Controller

The state controller retains administrative direction over the expendable fund, executes required annual fund transfers, and submits financial reports to the legislature and state agencies.

Key Facts

  • The legislation establishes an annual aggregate payout cap of $125,000 per person for approved depredation claims, including income from pass-through entities and household members.
  • A $750 deductible is subtracted from each statement of damages sustained per occurrence, acting as a net loss to the property owner or lessee.
  • The director of the department of fish and game may order up to one-half of an approved claim to be paid immediately if funds permit.
  • Unpaid approved claim amounts accumulate until June 30 and are paid proportionally if remaining fund balances are insufficient.
Show all 8 facts
  • For damages to standing or stored crops in subsequent years at the same location, the $750 deductible is waived if the department failed to prevent property loss after the first occurrence.
  • Total payments for forage damage claims from the expendable fund are capped at 50% of the interest earned from fund investments in any single fiscal year.
  • At the close of each fiscal year, unexpended and unencumbered balances exceeding $2,500,000 in the expendable fund are transferred to the fish and game set-aside account.
  • The bill officially renames the big game secondary depredation account to the expendable big game depredation fund.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum amount an individual can receive for depredation claims in a fiscal year?
The total payment amount to any person for approved claims in the aggregate in a fiscal year is capped at $125,000, which includes payments from pass-through entities and household members.
Are claimants required to absorb a deductible for wildlife damage?
Yes, a deductible of $750 must be subtracted from each statement of damages sustained per occurrence, representing a net loss to the owner or lessee.
When is the $750 deductible waived for crop damage?
The deductible is waived for claims in subsequent years for damage to standing or stored crops in the same location if the department failed to prevent property loss following the first occurrence.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

2 actions
  1. Feb 13, 2026Committee
    Reported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation
  2. Feb 12, 2026Introduced
    Introduced, 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.

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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.

Connected Entities

Department of Fish and Game, Expendable Big Game Depredation Fund, Nonexpendable Big Game Depredation Fund and 2 more
OrganizationDepartment of Fish and Game“State agency whose director certifies claims and manages depredation controls”Map →
otherExpendable Big Game Depredation Fund“Fund used to pay approved big game depredation claims”Map →
otherNonexpendable Big Game Depredation Fund“Fund established in the state treasury for investment purposes”Map →
OrganizationRESOURCES AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE“House committee that introduced House Bill 651”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Agriculture“State agency receiving annual reports from the state controller”Map →

Sources

Open source document

legislature.idaho.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
  • Controversy25
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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