Rating: 0

Bill Summary:
H0160 makes several technical updates to Idaho’s worker’s compensation statutes. It revises the definitions of “public employer” and “public corporation” within Sections 72-301 and 72-928 of Idaho Code to explicitly include cities, counties, and school districts, while explicitly excluding single-purpose municipal service districts. The bill also adds a sunset clause, stating that these definitional changes will expire on July 1, 2030, unless further legislative action is taken. The measure includes technical corrections, code reference updates, and provisions for the state insurance fund’s relationship to Idaho National Guard claims. An emergency clause allows the law to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:
H0160 earns a neutral rating because it primarily performs statutory cleanup and introduces temporary administrative definitions rather than making significant policy changes. While the redefinition of “public employer” could impact insurance requirements and self-insured status for local governments, the bill neither expands government authority nor rolls back regulatory burdens in a way that strongly aligns with—or contradicts—the Idaho Republican Party Platform. It avoids new spending or bureaucracy, includes a sunset provision for reevaluation, and maintains legislative oversight. As such, it represents a procedural adjustment rather than a substantive ideological shift.