# Idaho H 0856: PROTECTION OF GRAVES – Amends existing law to prohibit certain acts regarding graves and to provide exemptions. Idaho H 0856, PROTECTION OF GRAVES – Amends existing law to prohibit certain acts regarding graves and to provide exemptions., is a 2026 regular legislative session House bill sponsored by WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE; status signed, last action 2026-04-01 (Reported Signed by Governor on March 31, 2026 Session Law Chapter 253 Effective: 07/01/2026) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0856-2026 - 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 0856 - State: Idaho - Session: 2026 regular legislative session - Title: PROTECTION OF GRAVES – Amends existing law to prohibit certain acts regarding graves and to provide exemptions. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-03-10 - Last action: 2026-04-01, Reported Signed by Governor on March 31, 2026 Session Law Chapter 253 Effective: 07/01/2026 - Sponsor: WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: PROTECTION OF GRAVES - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (102 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Bans on grave damage and trade: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the law bans willfully damaging or destroying any grave or cairn. It also bans possessing, selling, buying, or leasing human remains or artifacts taken from a burial site, unless another law like Idaho section 27-503 or a listed exemption allows it. Public display of human r… - Exceptions for police, medical, and museums: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the law sets clear exceptions to the bans. Law enforcement and county coroners can act while doing official duties. Licensed medical, transport, mortuary, and cemetery providers may handle remains if they follow Idaho law. Qualified museums and regionally accredited colleges… - Felony penalties and stronger enforcement: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, enforcers can seize suspected remains or artifacts and order forensic or DNA tests. A court can forfeit items used in a violation. Forfeited human remains go to the county coroner after all cases end. Any violation of this section is a felony under Idaho Code 18-112. - Reburial rules after accidental discovery: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, if you inadvertently disturb human remains during work like construction, mining, or logging, you must arrange reburial. The Idaho State Historical Society pays at least part of the reinterment cost in many of these cases. The Society does not share costs when the disturbanc… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE - Cosponsor: Tammy Nichols (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Heather Scott (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-27 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 35 | 0 | | | 2026-03-20 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 67 | 0 | | ## Actions (17) - 2026-04-01: Reported Signed by Governor on March 31, 2026 Session Law Chapter 253 Effective: 07/01/2026 - 2026-03-31: Delivered to Governor at 4:50 p.m. on March 30, 2026 - 2026-03-30: Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President; returned to House (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate (House) - 2026-03-27: Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling (House) - 2026-03-27: Read third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0 (Senate) - 2026-03-26: Read second time; filed for Third Reading (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Received from the House passed; filed for first reading (Senate) - 2026-03-20: Rules Suspended: Ayes 70 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 0, read in full as required – PASSED - 67-0-3 (House) - 2026-03-20: Read second time; Filed for Third Reading (House) - 2026-03-19: Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading (House) - 2026-03-10: Reported Printed and Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration (House) - 2026-03-10: 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/H0856.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/H0856.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) - [Idaho bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/idaho/bills) - [Idaho state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/idaho) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0856-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).