Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1012 creates the Idaho Depredating Wildlife Appeals Board under the Office of the Governor to provide an appeals process for landowners whose claims of livestock or property damage from predators are denied following an initial investigation. The board consists of three members: the directors (or their designees) of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and a large animal veterinarian appointed by the governor.

Affected individuals may submit evidence such as eyewitness accounts, video, telemetry data, and expert analysis to support their appeal. The board’s decisions are final and binding for compensation purposes, and overturned denials will count toward the state’s official depredation incident statistics. The board operates outside the state’s open meeting laws due to the sensitive, quasi-judicial nature of its decisions. The bill also amends related statutes to reflect this new process and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

This bill directly aligns with the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s commitment to protecting property rights, defending against predator threats, and ensuring fair compensation for rural landowners. By establishing an independent appeals process, it curtails agency overreach and ensures that legitimate claims for livestock damage are not dismissed without recourse. The inclusion of agricultural and veterinary expertise ensures credibility, while the decision-making framework reinforces due process. Although exempting the board from open meeting laws raises some transparency concerns, the bill overall enhances fairness, accountability, and support for Idaho’s agricultural community—core values reflected throughout the platform.