All Roll Calls
Yes: 102 • No: 0
IdahoS 12392026 regular legislative sessionSenate
SEX OFFENDERS – Amends existing law to revise the definition of “daycare.”
Sponsored By: JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
SEX OFFENDERS
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Schools post signs and set stricter rules
Beginning July 1, 2026, school and daycare properties must post signs at every public entrance. Each sign must be at least 100 square inches, reference Idaho Code 18-8329, and include the words "registered sex offender." School districts and daycares may adopt stricter safety rules for people on their property. If they do, they must give those rules to people allowed to visit under the permission process by mail, fax, or online.
Stricter limits for offenders near schools
Beginning July 1, 2026, registered sex offenders in Idaho commit a misdemeanor if they are on school or daycare property when children are present. This also covers 30 minutes before and after a scheduled activity and includes properties posted as used by a school or daycare. They may not knowingly loiter on a public way within 500 feet of a school or daycare property line when children are present. They may not be in a school- or daycare-owned or -leased vehicle when children are inside.
Housing limits for offenders near schools and daycares
Beginning July 1, 2026, registered sex offenders may not live within 500 feet of a school or daycare property. Distance is measured from the nearest exterior wall of the home to the school or daycare property line. The ban does not apply if the person lived there before July 1, 2006 for a school, or before July 1, 2020 for a daycare that existed then. It also does not apply if the home was established before a daycare later opened within 500 feet. People living in a state-licensed incarceration, health, or convalescent facility, or at an approved homeless shelter or recovery facility, are exempt from the 500-foot rule.
Narrow visit exceptions for registered offenders
Beginning July 1, 2026, the bans on being on school or daycare grounds do not apply when the person is a student in attendance, voting in a public election, or picking up mail at an official post office on school grounds. A parent or legal guardian may enter to drop off or pick up a child, attend a conference or a school event with staff present, or make a brief delivery during school hours, if they contact the school or daycare and get written permission each year before the first visit. Contact can be by mail, fax, or online. These permission-based exceptions do not apply if the person resides in a state-licensed incarceration, health, or convalescent facility, or is at a homeless shelter or recovery facility approved by local law enforcement.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
BeiswengerTitle apvd - to Senate
Affiliation unavailable
Tammy Nichols
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/12/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 68 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/9/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor on 03/17/26 Session Law Chapter 38 Effective: 07/01/2026
3/18/2026Reported delivered to Governor at 4:10 p.m. on 03/16/26
3/17/2026Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
3/16/2026HouseReported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
3/13/2026SenateRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 68-0-2
3/12/2026HouseU.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
3/10/2026HouseU.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
3/9/2026HouseRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
3/6/2026HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
3/5/2026HouseReceived from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
2/10/2026HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 34-0-1
2/9/2026SenateRead second time; filed for Third Reading
2/6/2026SenateReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
2/5/2026SenateReported Printed; referred to Judiciary & Rules
1/30/2026SenateIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
1/29/2026Senate
Bill Text
Bill Text
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