Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: S1273 – Veterans Services Code Cleanup – Property Transfer
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 1273 removes obsolete language from Idaho’s veterans services statutes as part of the Idaho Code Cleanup Act. The bill deletes Section 65-201(3), which documented a property transfer from the Department of Health and Welfare to the Division of Veterans Services that occurred in 2000. Additionally, the bill repeals Section 65-210, which relates to the Veterans Home in Northern Idaho. These changes are designated as emergency legislation effective July 1, 2026.
The bill’s stated purpose is to streamline Idaho Code by removing provisions identified as obsolete, outdated, or unnecessary. The deleted subsection served only as a historical record of a completed property transfer from over two decades ago and no longer serves any active legal function. The repeal of Section 65-210 removes another provision deemed no longer necessary for current veterans services operations.
Overall Assessment
Senate Bill 1273 is a technical housekeeping measure that removes outdated administrative language from Idaho’s veterans services code. The bill eliminates historical references and provisions that no longer serve an active legal purpose, representing routine legislative maintenance to keep state statutes current and efficient.
This bill receives a total score of 0 across all evaluation metrics because it is purely administrative in nature. The legislation does not create new policies, alter substantive rights or obligations, or address any of the policy areas covered by the evaluation framework. It simply removes obsolete statutory language that documented past events and provisions no longer relevant to current operations. As a code cleanup measure, it falls outside the scope of the metrics used to evaluate substantive policy legislation.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it is a technical code cleanup measure that removes obsolete language rather than addressing government structure, fiscal responsibility, or administrative operations in any substantive way.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address citizen participation, transparency, public access to government, or any mechanisms for public involvement in governmental processes.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address education policy, school systems, curriculum, educational funding, or any matters related to educational institutions or programs.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address agricultural policy, farming operations, livestock management, or any matters related to Idaho's agricultural sector.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address water rights, water quality, water management, irrigation, or any water-related policy matters.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address natural resource management, environmental protection, conservation, or any related environmental policy matters.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address energy production, energy policy, utilities, or any matters related to Idaho's energy sector.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, or any related federal facilities or programs.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address property rights, land use regulations, eminent domain, or any matters affecting private property ownership or use.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address public lands management, federal land transfers, state land policy, or any matters related to government-owned lands.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address wildlife conservation, hunting and fishing regulations, habitat management, or any wildlife-related policy matters.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address economic development, business regulations, taxation, employment, or any matters affecting Idaho's economic policy.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address healthcare policy, public health programs, welfare services, or any substantive matters related to health and human services delivery.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address family policy, parental rights, marriage, child welfare, or any matters related to family structure or support.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address senior services, retirement policy, elder care, or any substantive programs or benefits for older Americans.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections, public safety, or any matters related to the legal system or crime prevention.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address national defense, border security, immigration enforcement, or any matters related to military or homeland security policy.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address judicial selection, court structure, or any matters related to the judiciary or legal system.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
This bill receives a score of 0 because it does not address religious freedom, faith-based exemptions, or any matters related to the exercise of religious beliefs.