Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0505 – Occupational Licensing Disciplinary Consolidation
Bill Summary
This repeal-and-replace bill consolidates disciplinary procedures for approximately 30 occupational and professional licensing boards administered by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. It repeals roughly 50 individual code sections containing board-specific provisions for hearings, subpoenas, injunctions, and prosecutorial duties scattered across various practice acts. In their place, the bill creates a new unified Section 67-2616 that grants all boards standardized authority to conduct hearings, issue subpoenas, seek injunctions, and impose disciplinary penalties including fines up to $1,000 per violation (unless otherwise specified in individual practice acts).
The bill removes language from individual board statutes that previously authorized boards to hire investigators, administer oaths, take depositions, and seek injunctive relief independently. These powers are now centralized under the division’s authority. The legislation affects licensing boards for architects, chiropractors, engineers, surveyors, nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, physicians, physical therapists, psychologists, and numerous other professions. Technical corrections update cross-references throughout the code to reflect the new centralized structure.
The bill includes an emergency clause making it effective July 1, 2026. It maintains existing grounds for discipline and penalties specified in individual practice acts while standardizing the procedural mechanisms for enforcement. The consolidation aims to create uniform administrative processes across all boards under the division’s oversight.
Overall Assessment
This bill reorganizes administrative procedures for professional licensing boards by centralizing disciplinary authority under the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Licensed professionals across 30+ occupations will face standardized hearing procedures and enforcement mechanisms rather than board-specific processes. The consolidation streamlines government operations by eliminating redundant statutory language while maintaining existing grounds for discipline and penalties.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill consolidates administrative procedures for occupational licensing boards by creating Section 67-2616 and repealing approximately 50 redundant sections. While this streamlines government operations, it does not address fiscal responsibility, taxation, federal spending, balanced budgets, or congressional reform. The administrative reorganization is procedural rather than substantive policy change affecting government accountability or spending.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill addresses internal administrative procedures for professional licensing boards. It does not relate to citizen participation in government, election procedures, primary elections, ranked-choice voting, voter rights, or political discourse. The changes affect how boards conduct disciplinary proceedings, not how citizens engage with government processes.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
The bill modifies disciplinary procedures for occupational licensing boards. While some licensed professions may include educators, the bill does not address educational curriculum, parental rights in education, school choice, funding mechanisms, or higher education policy. The licensing changes are administrative and do not affect educational content or delivery.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
This bill consolidates disciplinary procedures for professional licensing boards across various occupations. It does not address agricultural education, farm trade policy, water rights for agriculture, family farms, or ranching operations. None of the affected licensing boards govern agricultural professions or practices.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The bill reorganizes administrative procedures for occupational licensing boards. It does not address water rights, water appropriation, inter-basin transfers, river systems, water retention, dams, or any water management policies. The licensing changes are unrelated to water resource allocation or conservation.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
This bill addresses occupational licensing disciplinary procedures. It does not address environmental stewardship, federal environmental policy, wilderness areas, forest health, natural resource utilization, or any environmental management issues. The administrative consolidation does not affect natural resource policy.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The bill consolidates disciplinary procedures for professional licensing boards. It does not address energy independence, energy resource development, oil exploration, electrical rates, hydroelectric power, or any energy policy matters. The licensing changes are administrative and unrelated to energy production or regulation.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
This bill addresses occupational licensing disciplinary procedures. It does not mention the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, energy technology development, or any matters related to INL operations or mission. The administrative changes do not affect INL policy or operations.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The bill consolidates disciplinary procedures for occupational licensing boards. It does not address property rights, eminent domain, just compensation, regulatory takings, or regulations affecting property development. The licensing changes are administrative and do not affect property ownership or use rights.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
This bill addresses occupational licensing procedures. It does not address federal land management, state administration of federal lands, land ownership issues, or public land access. The administrative consolidation does not affect land management policy or jurisdiction.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
Section 1 amends Section 36-2107 regarding the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board by removing the board's authority to conduct hearings and issue subpoenas, transferring these powers to the centralized division structure. However, this is purely procedural and does not change wildlife management policy, hunting regulations, tag allocation, or predator control. Section 79 makes technical corrections to outfitter tag allocation provisions without substantive policy changes.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
The bill consolidates administrative procedures for occupational licensing boards. While streamlining government processes may marginally reduce administrative costs, it does not substantively address commerce, industry development, small business support, tax policy, labor regulations, or transportation infrastructure. The changes are procedural rather than economic policy reforms.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
While this bill affects licensing boards for healthcare professionals including physicians (Section 9), nurses (Section 6), pharmacists (Section 8), chiropractors (Section 3), and optometrists (Section 7), it only reorganizes disciplinary procedures rather than changing healthcare delivery systems, insurance regulation, or patient care standards. The administrative consolidation does not affect healthcare policy, welfare programs, or medical practice standards.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
This bill addresses occupational licensing disciplinary procedures. It does not address family values, parental authority, marriage definitions, abortion, children's welfare, or any family-related matters. The administrative changes to licensing boards do not affect family policy or parental rights.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
The bill consolidates disciplinary procedures for occupational licensing boards. It does not address policies affecting older Americans, retirement benefits, senior services, Social Security, Medicare, or work penalties for seniors. The licensing changes are administrative and do not affect programs or policies for older citizens.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
This bill addresses administrative disciplinary procedures for professional licensing boards. While Section 30 creates centralized enforcement mechanisms and various sections modify penalty provisions, these changes affect professional misconduct rather than criminal justice. The bill does not address gun rights, death penalty, drug policy, incarceration, juvenile justice, or criminal law enforcement matters.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
This bill addresses occupational licensing disciplinary procedures. It does not address military matters, veterans benefits, national defense, border security, terrorism, immigration enforcement, or National Guard operations. The administrative consolidation does not affect national security or defense policy.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
The bill consolidates disciplinary procedures for occupational licensing boards. It does not address judicial elections, judicial selection processes, constitutional interpretation principles, or the role of the judiciary. The licensing changes are administrative and do not affect judicial policy or selection.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
This bill consolidates disciplinary procedures for occupational licensing boards. It does not address religious freedom, free exercise of religion, conscience clauses, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or religious expression in public spaces. The administrative changes do not affect religious liberty protections or policies.