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H0536
Idaho Bill H536: Changes to County Power Over Agricultural Pests
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 7:59 AM
In one sentence
This bill updates Idaho law by giving county commissioners the power to declare specific animals, insects, and plant diseases as agricultural pests if they harm farms or land.
What it does
- Amends Section 25-2601 of the Idaho Code to revise rules about controlling agricultural pests.
- Gives county boards full power to label certain predators, rodents, insects, and plant disease-causing agents as agricultural pests if they harm livestock or crops on public or private land.
- Allows counties to take steps they deem necessary to control these declared pests within their area.
- Lists specific examples of animals like coyotes, mice, gophers, ground squirrels, rats, rabbits, hares, crickets, locusts, and grasshoppers that can be targeted.
- Includes plant disease-causing organisms in the list of things counties may control if they damage crops or livestock.
Who it affects
- Boards of county commissioners in every Idaho county
- Farmers and ranchers who raise poultry, livestock, or grow crops
- Owners of public or private land within the affected counties
Limits and unknowns
- The bill does not list specific methods counties must use to control pests.
- It is unclear how much funding will be available for these pest control efforts.
- The text does not explain what happens if a county disagrees with the state's definition of a pest.
Plain language
Terms to know
- County Commissioners
- The officials in charge of running a county government.
- Agricultural Pests
- Animals, insects, or diseases that harm livestock, crops, grasses, or the land used for farming as defined by this bill.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Agricultural pests
Official activity
Bill history
- H Loc Gov