Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0536 – Agricultural Pest Control Authority Reorganization
Bill Summary
House Bill 536 amends Section 25-2601 of Idaho Code to reorganize the statutory definition of agricultural pests that county commissioners may control. The bill removes a single-paragraph description of pests and replaces it with four clearly enumerated categories: (1) predatory animals including coyotes that harm poultry or livestock; (2) rodents, rabbits, hares, and other mammals that damage agricultural operations; (3) insects and invertebrates that destroy crops or livestock operations; and (4) plant disease-causing organisms. The reorganization adds specific examples such as mice, Norway rats, roof rats, crickets, locusts, and grasshoppers, while maintaining the same scope of county authority to declare and control these pests on public or private lands.
The bill clarifies that protected interests now explicitly include “poultry or livestock operations” and “the earth” in addition to the previously listed natural grasses and cultivated crops. This structural revision improves clarity without substantively expanding or restricting county commissioners’ existing pest control powers. The legislation includes an emergency clause making it effective July 1, 2026.
Overall Assessment
This bill receives a total score of +1, reflecting a modest positive alignment with the evaluation metrics. The legislation supports agricultural interests by clarifying county authority to protect livestock, poultry, crops, and natural grasses from pest damage. The reorganization from a single paragraph into four enumerated categories improves administrative clarity without altering the fundamental scope of pest control powers. The bill does not address most policy areas covered by the evaluation metrics, as it is narrowly focused on agricultural pest management procedures.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill amends county commissioners' pest control authority under Section 25-2601 but contains no provisions related to fiscal responsibility, taxation, government spending, legislative operations, or election procedures. The reorganization of pest definitions is an administrative clarification that does not engage with principles of responsible government outlined in this metric.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill addresses county commissioners' administrative authority to declare and control agricultural pests (lines 19-37) without any provisions concerning citizen participation, voting rights, primary elections, or civic engagement. The legislation does not alter or address mechanisms for citizen involvement in government decision-making.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
The bill concerns agricultural pest control and contains no language related to education, schools, curriculum, parental rights in education, teacher qualifications, or educational funding. There is no connection between pest management authority and educational policy.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (1)
The bill directly supports agricultural interests by clarifying county authority to control pests that threaten "poultry or livestock operations, natural grasses, cultivated crops of any kind" (lines 26-28, 30-32, 35-36). The reorganization into four enumerated categories strengthens administrative clarity for protecting agricultural production, which aligns with the metric's emphasis on maintaining a strong and viable agricultural industry through appropriate government service and protection.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The bill addresses pest control authority and contains no provisions related to water rights, water appropriation, inter-basin transfers, federal water management, or the prior appropriation doctrine. Agricultural pest control does not engage with water policy principles outlined in this metric.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
While the bill mentions pest control affecting natural grasses on public and private lands (lines 27, 31, 35), it does not address environmental policy, federal environmental regulations, wilderness designations, forest health, or natural resource stewardship principles. The focus is narrowly on agricultural pest management rather than broader environmental policy.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The bill amends pest control provisions in Section 25-2601 without any reference to energy independence, energy resources, hydroelectric power, electrical rates, or energy research. There is no connection between agricultural pest management and energy policy.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
The bill concerns county commissioners' authority over agricultural pests and contains no provisions related to Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear power research, energy development, or technology programs. There is no connection to INL operations or mission.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The bill maintains existing language allowing pest control on "public or private lands within their respective counties" (lines 22-23, 27-28, 32-33, 36-37) without changing property rights, regulatory takings protections, or due process requirements. The reorganization does not alter the existing balance between pest control authority and private property rights.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
While the bill applies to both public and private lands (lines 22-23, 27-28, 32-33, 36-37), it does not address federal land ownership, transfer of federal lands to state control, or state management of federal lands. The legislation maintains existing jurisdictional scope without engaging federal land policy.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The bill addresses predatory animals including coyotes (lines 21-23) strictly in the context of agricultural pest control when they harm poultry or livestock, not wildlife management for hunting, fishing, or recreational purposes. The focus is on protecting agricultural operations rather than managing wildlife populations for sportsmen or habitat conservation as described in this metric.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
While agricultural pest control may indirectly support economic activity by protecting crops and livestock, the bill does not directly address commerce development, small business regulation, labor policy, transportation infrastructure, or economic growth principles. The connection to broader economic policy is too indirect to warrant a rating.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
The bill addresses agricultural pest control authority and contains no provisions related to healthcare delivery, health insurance, patient rights, medical decisions, health savings accounts, or welfare programs. There is no connection to health and welfare policy principles.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
The bill concerns county commissioners' pest control powers and contains no provisions related to family values, parental rights, marriage, right to life, abortion, or children's welfare. Agricultural pest management does not engage with family policy principles.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
The bill addresses agricultural pest control without any provisions related to older Americans, retirement security, healthcare for seniors, or policies affecting elderly populations. There is no connection to this metric's principles.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
The bill concerns agricultural pest control authority and contains no provisions related to Second Amendment rights, death penalty, drug policy, incarceration, juvenile justice, or state sovereignty regarding immigration enforcement. There is no connection to criminal justice or law enforcement principles.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
The bill addresses county-level pest control and contains no provisions related to military affairs, veterans' services, national defense, border security, National Guard operations, or terrorism prevention. There is no connection to national defense principles.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
The bill concerns agricultural pest control authority and contains no provisions related to judicial selection, judicial elections, constitutional interpretation, or the role of the judiciary. There is no connection to judicial policy principles.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The bill addresses agricultural pest control and contains no provisions related to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, conscience protections, or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. There is no connection to religious liberty principles.