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H0510

Idaho House Bill 510: Government Transparency and Ethics

Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 7:59 AM

In one sentence

This bill protects public employees from punishment for communicating with lawmakers in good faith, sets rules for how agencies must answer record requests from the legislature, and updates legal remedies for violations.

Allows public employees to sue within 180 days if they face adverse action after engaging in protected activities like communicating with legislators.
Limits noneconomic damages in these lawsuits to amounts set by existing state law (Idaho Code section 6-1603) and bans punitive damages against government entities.
Prohibits employers from creating rules that block, require approval for, or punish employees who contact the legislature.
Requires executive branch agencies to acknowledge record requests from lawmakers within three working days.
Mandates that agencies provide a substantive response to legislative record requests within 15 working days unless an extension is granted.

The bill does not protect employees who knowingly make false statements or unlawfully share confidential information.
Agencies do not have to release information if state or federal law makes it confidential, though they must identify the legal reason for withholding it and provide any nonconfidential parts.

Plain language

Good faith communication: Contacting lawmakers with a reasonable basis in fact; it does not include malicious, false, or frivolous statements.
Adverse action: Punishment or negative treatment taken against an employee by their employer because of protected communication.
Substantive response: A full answer to a record request that includes records, data, explanations, analysis, or identification of information not maintained by the agency.

Official record

Source attached

Government ethics, public record

Official activity