All Roll Calls
Yes: 104 • No: 0
IdahoH 00532025 regular legislative sessionHouseWALLET
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY – Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the prevention and deterrence of unemployment insurance fraud.
Sponsored By: COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Tougher penalties for unemployment benefit fraud
Beginning July 1, 2025, willfully lying or hiding important facts to obtain or increase covered unemployment payments is a crime. Amounts obtained or attempted of $1,000 or less are misdemeanors; amounts over $1,000 are felonies. Each false statement or omission is separate, but violations within one benefit year can be grouped and their amounts added. The director can no longer reduce covered 52-week benefit disqualifications under Idaho Code sections 72-1369(1), 72-1369(2), or 72-1366(12). The director retains discretion to settle overpayments, civil penalties, or interest for less than the amount owed.
More restitution for unemployment identity theft
Beginning July 1, 2025, knowingly transferring, possessing, or using another identity without lawful authority is a felony when intended to commit or help an Idaho Employment Security Law violation. Covered identity information includes names, government identification numbers, and account information. People and entities whose identities are misused are entitled to restitution. After a conviction, courts must also order at least $1,000 in extra restitution for each person whose identity was misused.
Stricter unemployment payment rules for employers
Beginning July 1, 2025, knowingly failing or refusing to make required unemployment payments or provide required reports is a misdemeanor. This covers requirements under Idaho, other states’ unemployment laws, and federal unemployment law. For business-transfer and unemployment-rate statements, knowing conduct includes actual knowledge, deliberate ignorance, or reckless disregard for truth. Willful false statements or material omissions need not involve specific intent to defraud or break the law. Intentional, rather than accidental, violations remain subject to applicable penalties.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Jim Guthrie
Republican • Senate
Lori Ann McCann
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 70 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Reported Signed by Governor on March 11, 2025 Session Law Chapter 28 Effective: 07/01/2025
3/13/2025Delivered to Governor at 11:37 a.m. on March 10, 2025
3/11/2025Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
3/10/2025SenateSigned by President; returned to House
3/7/2025SenateReceived from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
3/7/2025SenateReported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
3/6/2025HouseReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
3/5/2025HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 34-0-1
3/4/2025SenateRead second time; filed for Third Reading
2/20/2025SenateReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
2/19/2025SenateIntroduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human Resources
2/12/2025SenateReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
2/12/2025SenateRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 70-0-0
2/11/2025HouseU.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
2/10/2025HouseRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
2/7/2025HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
2/6/2025HouseReported Printed and Referred to Commerce & Human Resources
1/27/2025HouseIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
1/24/2025House
Bill Text
Bill Text
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