Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0735 – Paid Political Canvasser Disclosure Requirements
Bill Summary
House Bill 735 creates new Section 67-6628B in Idaho Code, establishing disclosure requirements for individuals who accept payment to influence voters through in-person canvassing. The bill defines paid in-person canvassing broadly to include door-to-door solicitation, distributing materials about candidates or ballot measures, conducting get-out-the-vote efforts, and other direct contact intended to affect electoral participation. Paid canvassers must meet qualified elector requirements (or demonstrate 30-day residency for those under 18), verbally disclose their paid status and identify who is paying them, and wear a clearly visible badge stating ‘paid political advocate’ at all times while canvassing.
The Secretary of State is directed to establish badge specifications through rulemaking and create a complaint system on the state website. Violations carry civil fines up to $250 for individuals and $2,500 for organizations, with potential misdemeanor charges including up to six months imprisonment for knowing and willful violations. The bill exempts volunteers acting without compensation, individuals whose canvassing is incidental to broader campaign employment, phone banking activities, and candidates canvassing for their own campaigns. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, under an emergency clause.
Overall Assessment
House Bill 735 addresses procedural aspects of political canvassing operations by requiring paid canvassers to disclose their compensation status and employer identity through verbal disclosure and visible badging. The bill received a total score of -1, reflecting that while most policy areas are unaffected by its provisions, the legislation does create a measurable negative impact in the area of citizen involvement in government by imposing new regulatory burdens and penalties on a form of political participation.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill addresses administrative procedures for paid political canvassing and does not engage with the platform's principles regarding government responsibility, fiscal accountability, or the proper scope of government functions. The disclosure and badging requirements are narrow regulatory measures that neither advance nor impede the goals outlined under this metric.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (-1)
The metric states the Party 'believes that government works best when its citizens become actively involved' and 'encourages all citizens to engage in healthy debate on all issues.' This bill creates new regulatory burdens on paid political canvassing - a form of citizen involvement in elections. Section 67-6628B(2) requires paid canvassers to 'Meet all of the qualifications of a qualified elector' and Section 67-6628B(3) mandates wearing a badge 'at all times while engaging in paid in-person canvassing activities.' Section 67-6625 adds civil fines up to $250 and potential misdemeanor penalties including 'imprisonment for not more than six (6) months' for violations. These new requirements and penalties create barriers to one form of political participation, opposing the metric's encouragement of citizen involvement.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
House Bill 735 is focused exclusively on disclosure requirements for paid political canvassers and contains no provisions related to education policy, curriculum, school governance, or any other matter addressed under this metric. The bill has no impact on the platform's education priorities.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
This bill establishes canvassing disclosure requirements within Idaho's election code and does not address agricultural policy, farming practices, rural land use, or any other matter relevant to this metric. No score is warranted under this category.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
House Bill 735 pertains solely to paid political canvassing regulations and contains no provisions related to water rights, water management, irrigation, or any other water policy matter evaluated under this metric. The bill has no bearing on this platform priority.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
This bill addresses electoral canvassing procedures and does not engage with natural resource management, environmental regulation, public lands, or any related policy area covered by this metric. The bill's provisions have no impact on natural resources or environmental priorities.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
House Bill 735 is limited in scope to disclosure requirements for paid political canvassers and does not address energy production, energy policy, utility regulation, or any other matter relevant to this metric. No impact on energy priorities is identified.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
This bill concerns paid canvassing disclosure requirements in Idaho's election code and contains no provisions related to the Idaho National Laboratories, nuclear research, or associated policy matters. The bill has no bearing on this metric.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
House Bill 735 regulates the conduct of paid political canvassers and does not directly address private property rights, eminent domain, land use regulations, or other property rights issues evaluated under this metric. The bill's provisions do not substantively engage with this platform priority.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
This bill establishes canvassing disclosure requirements within Idaho's election code and contains no provisions related to state or federal land management, land transfers, or public land policy. The bill has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
House Bill 735 is focused on paid political canvassing regulations and does not address wildlife management, hunting and fishing rights, predator control, or any other matter covered under this metric. No score is warranted.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
This bill creates administrative requirements for paid political canvassers and does not substantively engage with economic policy, taxation, business regulation, workforce development, or other economic priorities evaluated under this metric. The bill's narrow regulatory scope does not affect this platform area.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
House Bill 735 addresses electoral canvassing procedures and contains no provisions related to health care policy, welfare programs, Medicaid, or any other health and welfare matter evaluated under this metric. The bill has no impact on this platform priority.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
This bill is limited to disclosure requirements for paid political canvassers and does not address family policy, parental rights, marriage, or any other matter relevant to this metric. The bill's provisions have no bearing on the platform's family priorities.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
House Bill 735 concerns paid canvassing disclosure requirements and does not address issues related to older Americans, including retirement security, elder care, or senior services evaluated under this metric. No impact on this platform priority is identified.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
This bill establishes civil and misdemeanor penalties for violations of paid canvassing disclosure requirements, but these enforcement provisions are narrowly tailored to electoral regulation rather than addressing broader law enforcement priorities, criminal justice policy, or public safety matters evaluated under this metric. The bill does not substantively engage with this platform area.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
House Bill 735 addresses paid political canvassing regulations within Idaho's election code and contains no provisions related to national defense, border security, immigration enforcement, or any other matter evaluated under this metric. The bill has no impact on this platform priority.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
This bill concerns disclosure requirements for paid political canvassers and does not address the election or appointment of judges, judicial selection processes, or any other matter related to the judiciary evaluated under this metric. No score is warranted.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
House Bill 735 is focused on paid canvassing disclosure requirements and does not address religious liberty, freedom of conscience, faith-based organizations, or any other matter relevant to this metric. The bill has no bearing on this platform priority.