All Roll Calls
Yes: 77 • No: 25
IdahoS 11332025 regular legislative sessionSenateWALLET
AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION AREAS – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise the Agricultural Protection Area Act.
Sponsored By: STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION AREAS
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Longer farmland protection limits other uses
Agricultural protection areas protect farmland for at least 20 years. Counties cannot change protected parcels' agricultural land-use classification or zoning without the owner's written permission. Nonfarm uses, including housing, businesses, solar and wind facilities, are barred unless they also contribute to agricultural production. Allowed nonfarm uses must still follow county planning, zoning and building rules. Land cannot receive another land-use designation until protection expires without renewal or the owner completes the removal process. A removal petition sets an exit date 10 years later or when protection expires, whichever comes first. Counties must also allow removal for hardship.
Farm applicants get deadlines and fee caps
County application fees and fees for adding or removing protected land cannot exceed actual processing and related administrative costs. Appeal fees cannot exceed the actual cost of the public hearing. After receiving the commission's recommendation, the county administrator has 60 days to approve or deny an application in writing. The decision must identify the standards used, address the recommendation and explain steps toward approval when applicable. Without a timely decision, the recommendation becomes the decision. An applicant challenging the decision has 30 days after receiving it to appeal to the county board. The board must hold a hearing within 60 days of receiving the appeal and decide within 60 days after it closes. If the board misses its decision deadline, the administrator's decision becomes final; final decisions are subject to court review. Applications to add land to existing protected areas follow the same process.
Farm owners gain broader protection access
Idaho counties must establish agricultural protection ordinances and commissions; the former January 1, 2025 deadline is removed. Owners can apply whether their land is inside or outside a legally defined area of impact. Applying does not guarantee approval. Counties must show protected areas on a planning map, without requiring rezoning, a comprehensive plan amendment or other planning-map changes. Designation is voluntary and does not bind neighboring parcels. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Ben Adams
Republican • Senate
Andrus
Affiliation unavailable
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/25/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 50 • No: 18
Senate vote • 3/14/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 27 • No: 7
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor on 03/31/25 Session Law Chapter 241 Effective: 03/31/2025
4/3/2025Reported delivered to Governor at 3:24 p.m. on 03/27/25
3/28/2025Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor
3/27/2025Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
3/27/2025HouseReported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
3/26/2025SenateReturned From House Passed; referred to enrolling
3/26/2025SenateRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 50-18-2
3/25/2025HouseRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
3/24/2025HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
3/21/2025HouseRead First Time, Referred to Local Government
3/17/2025HouseReceived from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
3/17/2025HouseRead third time in full as amended – PASSED - 27-7-1
3/14/2025SenateRead second time as amended, filed for Third reading
3/13/2025SenateRead first time as amended, filed for Second Reading
3/12/2025SenateReported engrossed, filed for first reading, as amended
3/12/2025SenateAmendments reported printed
3/12/2025SenateAmendments ordered printed; referred for engrossment
3/12/2025SenateReported out without recommendation, as amended
3/12/2025SenatePlaced in the Committee of the Whole
3/12/2025SenateReported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
3/12/2025SenateReported Printed; referred to Local Government & Taxation
2/27/2025SenateIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
2/26/2025Senate
Bill Text
Amendment
Bill Text
Engrossment 1
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