# Idaho H 0540: PUBLIC RECORDS ACT – Amends existing law to provide that certain records of the Department of Juvenile Corrections shall be exempt from disclosure.

Idaho H 0540, PUBLIC RECORDS ACT – Amends existing law to provide that certain records of the Department of Juvenile Corrections shall be exempt from disclosure., is a 2026 regular legislative session House bill sponsored by JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE; status signed, last action 2026-03-20 (Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2026 Session Law Chapter 61 Effective: 07/01/2026) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0540-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Idaho H 0540
- State: Idaho
- Session: 2026 regular legislative session
- Title: PUBLIC RECORDS ACT – Amends existing law to provide that certain records of the Department of Juvenile Corrections shall be exempt from disclosure.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-03-20, Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2026 Session Law Chapter 61 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Sponsor: JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (104 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Some juvenile corrections records kept private: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, certain records of the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections are not open to the public. The law exempts these records from disclosure under the Public Records Act. This protects the privacy and safety of juveniles and department operations, but reduces public access to t…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
- Cosponsor: Erin M. Bingham (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Doug Ricks (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-16 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 35 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 69 | 0 |   |

## Actions (18)

- 2026-03-20: Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2026 Session Law Chapter 61 Effective: 07/01/2026
- 2026-03-19: Delivered to Governor at 4:22 p.m. on March 18, 2026
- 2026-03-18: Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Signed by President; returned to House (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2026-03-17: Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling (House)
- 2026-03-16: Read third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0 (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Read second time; filed for Third Reading (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Received from the House passed; filed for first reading (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 69-0-1 (House)
- 2026-02-10: U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time; Filed for Third Reading (House)
- 2026-02-06: Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading (House)
- 2026-01-29: Reported Printed and Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration (House)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0540.pdf)

## Related bills

- H 0939: HUNTING – Amends existing law regarding the use of certain technologies. (signed)
- H 0810: ELECTIONS – Amends existing law to provide certain physical presence requirements for state representatives and senators. (signed)
- S 1356: SINGLE COUNTYWIDE HIGHWAY DISTRICTS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the election of commissioners in certain single countywide highway dis… (signed)
- S 1359: VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSK FRAUD PREVENTION ACT – Adds to existing law to establish the Virtual Currency Kiosk Fraud Prevention Act. (vetoed)
- S 1362: APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program for fiscal year 2027. (signed)
- S 1448: MINORS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding material harmful to minors. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0540.pdf)

## Related
- [H 0939: HUNTING – Amends existing law regarding the use of certain technologies.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0939-2026)
- [H 0810: ELECTIONS – Amends existing law to provide certain physical presence requiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0810-2026)
- [S 1356: SINGLE COUNTYWIDE HIGHWAY DISTRICTS – Amends existing law to revise provisions…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1356-2026)
- [S 1359: VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSK FRAUD PREVENTION ACT – Adds to existing law to establish…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1359-2026)
- [S 1362: APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Relates to the appropriation to the Public Sc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1362-2026)
- [S 1448: MINORS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding material harmful to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1448-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0540-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).