CEMETERY MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding vacancies on cemetery maintenance boards.

Counties restore cemetery boards and keep operating

Beginning July 1, 2026, Idaho counties must step in when cemetery maintenance boards lack an odd-numbered quorum to conduct business. For vacancies caused by death, resignation, or reasons other than term expiration, the county covering most of the district appoints replacements. It must fill only enough seats to restore that quorum. Applicants must be qualified voters in their subdistrict, have lived in the district for at least one year, and be current on property taxes. If a subdistrict has no qualified applicants, qualified applicants from elsewhere in the district can be appointed. The county must seek applicants through all its public communication channels and notify other counties and cities covering district areas. Those governments can recommend applicants. Recruitment must start within one month after the quorum problem arises or within one month after July 1, 2026, whichever is later. Appointments must follow within three months after recruitment starts. While an odd-numbered quorum is absent, the county takes over board duties until a quorum returns or the district dissolves. It uses district funds for necessary operations, including employee pay and urgent maintenance. District funds can also pay recruitment costs; once a quorum forms, the district must repay county recruitment spending within 30 days. Individual residents do not owe that repayment. The law provides for three subdistricts, with no more than one board member from each; consolidated districts may have five. Initial board members serve until the next district election, and the cemetery board fills other non-term-expiration vacancies when it has a quorum.