IdahoIdaho uses federal honey standards and allows fines for violations
Idaho's honey law uses federal standards for inspections and testing and allows fines up to $10,000 per offense after notice and a chance for a hearing.
What it does
Honey inspections and testing use federal standards for honey removed from the comb. The Idaho Honey Commission's separate honey standards rules have no legal force starting July 1, 2026.
People who violate Idaho's honey industry law may face fines of up to $10,000 per offense and reasonable attorney fees. They must first receive notice and a chance for a hearing.
Argument forUsing federal honey standards for inspections and testing could give honey packers a clearer benchmark for meeting quality requirements.
Argument againstFines of up to $10,000 per offense, plus reasonable attorney fees, could leave honey businesses with substantial bills for violations.
More detail
The Idaho Department of Agriculture uses federal standards for extracted honey when checking compliance and testing samples. These checks cover honey processed, packed, stored, or transported for retail sale. Extracted honey means honey removed from the comb. The inspection authority in section 22-2810(1) requires a written complaint, staff credentials, and reasonable inspection times and limits. The standards provisions took effect on July 1, 2026. The rules in IDAPA 02.06.16 have no force on or after that date.
The Idaho Department of Agriculture or its authorized agent may impose fines for violations of Idaho's honey industry law. Anyone who violates or fails to follow the honey industry law may face a fine of up to $10,000 per offense and must pay reasonable attorney fees. The person must receive notice and an opportunity for a hearing before a fine is imposed. The person may appeal to district court within 30 days of the agency's final action. The department may sue in district court to collect unpaid fines. The penalty provisions 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 27, 2026 Session Law Chapter 218 Effective: 07/01/2026; 07/01/2026 IDAPA Sunset Clause - SECTION 12Became Law
- Mar 27Delivered to Governor at 12:01 p.m. on March 27, 2026To Governor
- Mar 27Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 26Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 26Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 26Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 25Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25Read third time in full – PASSED - 33-0-2AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), 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, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – Ward-Engelking, WintrowFloor Sponsor - BlaylockTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 20Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 19Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 17Introduced, read first time; referred to: Agricultural AffairsMinor
- Mar 17Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 16Rules Suspended: Ayes 69 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required – 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, 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 - EhlersTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 69 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 16Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 13Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 5Reported Printed and Referred to Agricultural Affairs
- Mar 4Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
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