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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho Designates Hunting as the Official State Sport Effective July 1, 2026
Last action · March 20, 2026: Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2026 Session Law Chapter 53 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
Idaho formally establishes hunting as the official state sport, with the designation taking effect on July 1, 2026.
Changes only the official state symbols and cultural recognitions of Idaho; no state funding, property rules, or hunting regulations are altered by the designation.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Hunters and Outdoor Recreationists
Hunting receives official recognition as the state sport of Idaho.
Key Facts
- Hunting is officially designated and declared to be the state sport of the State of Idaho under a newly added section 67-4517, Idaho Code.
- The legislative findings state that Idaho values the constitutional rights to hunt, fish, and trap, viewing hunting as historically and culturally representative of these traditions.
- The act declares an emergency and establishes an effective date of July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this bill change hunting license fees or bag limits?
When does this designation take effect?
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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 53 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Mar 17, 2026Delivered to Governor at 1:35 p.m. on March 17, 2026
- Mar 17, 2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
- Mar 16, 2026Signed by President; returned to House
- Mar 16, 2026Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
- Mar 16, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 12 earlier actions
- Mar 13, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Mar 12, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 34-0-1 AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Coho(Lenney), Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Rundhaug(Carlson), Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Woodward, Zito, Zuiderveld NAYS – None Absent and excused – Wintrow Floor Sponsor - Bernt Title apvd - to House
- Mar 5, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Mar 4, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Feb 24, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
- Feb 24, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Feb 23, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 63-0-7 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), 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, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – None Absent – Bingham, Church, Crane(13), Dygert, Mickelsen, Petzke, Raybould Floor Sponsor - Hall Title apvd - to Senate
- Feb 20, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 23, 2026
- Feb 19, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Feb 18, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Feb 13, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation
- Feb 12, 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.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance10How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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