IdahoPublic school districts choose local or state building-plan reviewers
Starting July 1, 2026, Idaho school districts may choose state or qualified local officials to review public school building plans before seeking bids.
What it does
School districts may choose state or local reviewers for public school plans. Local reviewers must meet certification rules for work valued above $100,000, while smaller projects have a broader local option.
Reviewers must complete the first public school plan review within 30 days. Districts must secure approval before seeking bids and before making material plan changes.
Argument forGiving districts a choice of state or qualified local reviewers could let them use the office that best fits a project's needs.
Argument againstCertification requirements and approval before bidding could limit local review options or add steps for districts planning larger school projects.
More detail
A school district may choose the state division or an eligible local government to review its public school building plans. The choice covers public school buildings, additions, and alterations. Local governments must meet listed code-adopter and examiner-certification requirements for work valued above $100,000. For work valued at $100,000 or less, the district may use a local government without those examiner-eligibility requirements. Local examiners must have certifications and, for plumbing and electrical reviews, the required Idaho journeyman licenses. A local government may ask the state division to review plan portions for which it lacks a properly certified examiner. A local government may not charge more than the state division's rule-based fee for a school plan review. The district must make its choice by written certification to the state division and the local government involved. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The reviewing state or local jurisdiction must complete the first plan review within 30 calendar days, and the district must receive approval before advertising for bids. These rules apply to public school building plans reviewed by the state division or a local government. Any material plan change also needs review and approval by the jurisdiction that reviewed the original plans. The review covers major building systems, including structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, accessibility, elevators, boilers, and energy conservation. Local governments retain authority to issue building permits and conduct fire, zoning, land-use, and other building-code enforcement activities. School construction and remodeling must be inspected by certified building inspectors or Idaho-licensed architects or engineers. The 30-day period begins when the reviewing jurisdiction receives the plan. Approval is required before the district advertises for bids, and approval is required before any material plan change is made.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on April 2, 2026 Session Law Chapter 277 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Apr 1Delivered to Governor at 12:50 p.m. on April 1, 2026To Governor
- Apr 1Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 31Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 31Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 31Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 31Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 30Read third time in full – PASSED - 34-0-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – GallowayFloor Sponsor - ToewsTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 24Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 17Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human ResourcesMinor
- Mar 17Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 16Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 69-0-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson(Larsen), Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug(Chadwick), Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – NoneAbsent – HawsFloor Sponsor - Crane(13)Title apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 18Reported Printed and Referred to Business
- Feb 17Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
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