Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0690 – Repeal of Sobriety and Drug Monitoring Program
Bill Summary
House Bill 690 eliminates the Attorney General’s authority to operate a sobriety and drug monitoring program in Idaho. The bill removes subsection (18) from Idaho Code Section 67-1401, which currently requires the Attorney General to establish a program designed to reduce impaired driving, decrease repeat DUI offenses, and provide pretrial and posttrial options for prosecutors and judges dealing with offenders whose crimes involved alcohol or drug abuse. Additionally, the bill repeals five entire sections of Idaho Code (67-1412 through 67-1416) that contain the statutory framework governing the program’s operation, rules, and fee structure.
The legislation declares an emergency and takes effect July 1, 2026. By removing this program, the bill eliminates a monitoring tool that was intended to address repeat offenders and provide alternatives to traditional incarceration for certain alcohol and drug-related offenses. The bill does not establish any replacement program or alternative mechanism for monitoring offenders who would have been subject to this program.
Overall Assessment
This bill terminates a state-run sobriety and drug monitoring program designed to reduce impaired driving and provide alternatives for handling repeat DUI offenders. The elimination of this program removes a tool that prosecutors and judges could use for pretrial and posttrial supervision of offenders with substance abuse issues. The bill reduces government programming by removing an entire statutory framework from the Attorney General’s duties, but also eliminates options for alternative sentencing and treatment-focused approaches to substance-related offenses.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (1)
The bill removes subsection (18) from Section 67-1401 and repeals Sections 67-1412 through 67-1416, eliminating an entire government program administered by the Attorney General. This terminates a state-run monitoring program along with its associated rules, fees, and administrative structure, reducing the scope of government operations.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill addresses the repeal of a sobriety and drug monitoring program administered by the Attorney General. It contains no provisions related to elections, voting procedures, citizen participation in government, or public involvement in decision-making processes.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
The bill repeals sobriety and drug monitoring programs under the Attorney General's authority. It contains no provisions related to education policy, schools, curriculum, parental rights in education, or educational funding.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
The bill addresses criminal justice monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to agriculture, farming, ranching, agricultural markets, or water rights for agricultural use.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The bill repeals sobriety and drug monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to water rights, water management, dam operations, or water policy.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
The bill addresses criminal offender monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to natural resources, environmental policy, federal lands management, or conservation efforts.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The bill repeals sobriety and drug monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to energy policy, energy production, energy independence, or utility regulation.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
The bill addresses criminal justice monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, or technology development.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The bill repeals sobriety and drug monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to private property rights, eminent domain, regulatory takings, or property development regulations.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
The bill addresses criminal offender monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to state or federal land management, land ownership, or public lands administration.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The bill repeals sobriety and drug monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to wildlife management, fish and game, hunting, fishing, or predator control.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
The bill repeals a government monitoring program, which reduces administrative costs, but does not directly address commerce, industry, small business regulation, labor policy, or transportation infrastructure as defined in this metric.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
While the bill repeals programs related to substance abuse monitoring, it does not address healthcare delivery systems, health insurance regulation, patient rights, or medical services as defined in this metric.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
The bill repeals sobriety and drug monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to family structure, marriage, abortion, children's welfare, or parental rights.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
The bill addresses criminal justice monitoring programs. It contains no provisions specifically related to older Americans, senior services, or policies affecting elderly citizens.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (-1)
The deleted subsection (18) describes a program designed to "increase pretrial and posttrial options for prosecutors and judges in responding to repeat DUI offenders and offenders for certain crimes in which the abuse of alcohol or drugs was a contributing factor." By eliminating this program, the bill removes alternative sentencing options and treatment-focused approaches for substance-related offenses, which runs counter to supporting creative alternative sentencing and treatment for offenders.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
The bill repeals sobriety and drug monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to national defense, military operations, veterans' affairs, border security, or the National Guard.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
The bill addresses criminal justice monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to judicial elections, selection of judges, or constitutional interpretation.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The bill repeals sobriety and drug monitoring programs. It contains no provisions related to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, or conscience protections.