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IdahoH 07492026 regular legislative sessionHouse

ANNEXATION BY CITIES – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding costs associated with the annexation of certain property by cities.

Sponsored By: WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Signed by Governor

ANNEXATION BY CITIES

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Annexed owners can keep water/sewer

If your property is annexed and you did not give consent, you do not have to connect to city water or sewer. You may keep or replace your current compliant system. If city work makes your system fail, the city pays costs caused only by that failure. This protection applies starting July 1, 2024.

Farms and forests need consent to annex

If you own 5 or more acres used for farming or forestry (as defined in law), the city cannot annex it without your written permission. This protects your current tax and service status. Effective July 1, 2024.

No shoestring annexations; highways included

Land is not “contiguous” if the only link to the city is a narrow shoestring or a highway or railroad right-of-way. Cities cannot annex based only on those strips. When land is annexed, any highways in the area are included unless the city and the road agency have an express agreement otherwise. Effective July 1, 2024.

Old city water hookup counts as consent

If your land is connected to a city-owned water or sewer system and you asked for that link in writing before July 1, 2024, the law treats that as consent to annexation. A connection finished before July 1, 2008 also counts as consent. These rules apply starting July 1, 2024.

Fast court appeals on annexations

For city-initiated annexations, you can ask a court to review the annexation and zoning. You must file in district court within 28 days after the annexation ordinance is published. The amended rules apply to annexations on or after July 1, 2024, and earlier lawful consents and annexations remain valid. The act is in full force and effect on and after July 1, 2026.

Easier annexing of small enclaves, airports

If a residential enclave has 30 or fewer private parcels and is fully surrounded by city or unannexable land, cities can annex it without the usual consent and plan steps in subsections (3) and (4). A city may also annex noncontiguous land that holds a city-owned airport or landing field; land next to the airport still must meet normal annexation rules. Effective July 1, 2024.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Barbara Ehardt

    Republican • House

  • Dave Lent

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 103 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/17/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 69 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Reported Signed by Governor on March 20, 2026 Session Law Chapter 97 Effective: 07/01/2026

    3/23/2026

  2. Delivered to Governor at 2 p.m. on March 19, 2026

    3/19/2026

  3. Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor

    3/19/2026Senate

  4. Signed by President; returned to House

    3/18/2026Senate

  5. Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker

    3/18/2026Senate

  6. Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate

    3/18/2026House

  7. Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling

    3/17/2026House

  8. Read third time in full – PASSED - 34-0-1

    3/17/2026Senate

  9. Read second time; filed for Third Reading

    3/13/2026Senate

  10. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading

    3/12/2026Senate

  11. Introduced, read first time; referred to: Local Government & Taxation

    3/6/2026Senate

  12. Received from the House passed; filed for first reading

    3/6/2026Senate

  13. Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 69-0-1

    3/5/2026House

  14. U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day

    3/4/2026House

  15. U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day

    3/3/2026House

  16. Read second time; Filed for Third Reading

    3/2/2026House

  17. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading

    2/27/2026House

  18. Reported Printed and Referred to Local Government

    2/23/2026House

  19. Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing

    2/20/2026House

Bill Text

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