IdahoIdaho sheriffs may board boats when they reasonably suspect violations
Since July 1, 2026, Idaho’s safe boating law allows county sheriffs and deputies to stop and board covered boats when they reasonably suspect a violation has occurred.
What it does
County sheriffs and deputies may stop and board boats covered by Idaho’s safe boating law when they have a reasonable basis to suspect a violation has occurred.
Argument forRequiring a reasonable basis to suspect a violation could protect boaters from stops and boarding without a clear reason.
Argument againstRequiring suspicion of a violation before boarding could limit officers’ ability to check boats for safety problems that are not visible.
More detail
County sheriffs and deputies may stop and board covered boats when they reasonably suspect a violation has occurred. This authority covers boats subject to Idaho’s safe boating law. County sheriffs and deputies have primary responsibility for enforcing that law. Officers must have a reasonable basis to suspect that a violation has occurred. The law took effect on July 1, 2026.
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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
- Mar 30Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 164 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 26Delivered to Governor at 4:39 p.m. on March 25, 2026To Governor
- Mar 25Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 25Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 25Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 24Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 24Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 23Read third time in full – PASSED - 33-0-2AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, 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 – Adams, Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - HartTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 18Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 17Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Feb 25Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & RulesMinor
- Feb 25Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Feb 24Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 68-0-2AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, 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, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – NoneAbsent – Galaviz, SauterFloor Sponsor - HarrisTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 23U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Feb 20Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Feb 19Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Jan 29Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
- Jan 28Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
Public Safety