IdahoIdaho licensing boards enforce professional rules through hearings and penalties
Idaho's Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses can seek court orders to stop continuing violations, while its boards follow each profession's discipline rules.
What it does
Idaho licensing boards can suspend or revoke licenses, require repayment for harm, and impose fines. Each profession's own discipline rules and limits still apply.
Division-run licensing boards can pursue discipline for unlicensed work, failure to cooperate with investigations, or failure to meet initial license requirements. An expired license does not end their authority.
Anyone can file a detailed complaint about a license holder. Complaint files remain confidential, and private settlements are allowed; the original complainant can request a settlement status report.
Landscape architect applicants can qualify through at least eight years of board-accepted experience or education instead of an approved degree. They must still pass an exam and be at least 18.
Argument forOrders requiring repayment could help customers recover losses caused by professional violations, while preserving each profession's own discipline rules.
Argument againstPrivate settlements could make misconduct harder for customers to discover, although the person who filed the complaint can request a status report.
More detail
Licensing boards can hold hearings, require witnesses and records, and impose discipline. The licensing division can ask courts to stop continuing violations. These powers cover boards, commissions, programs, and committees run by Idaho's Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Discipline requires a finding that the person violated a law, rule, or accepted professional standard. Each profession's discipline standards, limits, and required steps still apply. Formal cases must follow Idaho's process for disputed agency decisions. Fines are limited to $1,000 per count or offense unless the relevant laws or rules provide otherwise. Boards can also assess investigation costs and attorney fees. The division must file a sworn court complaint. A court may temporarily stop conduct if it finds the violation is likely to continue. The law took effect on July 1, 2026.
Division-run licensing boards can pursue discipline for doing or helping unlicensed work, failing to cooperate with investigations, or failing to keep meeting initial license requirements. A board retains authority over violations even when a license or similar approval expires because it was not renewed. The cooperation and continuing qualification provisions apply to applicants and license holders. Discipline must follow the standards, limits, and required steps in the law governing the profession. These provisions took effect on July 1, 2026.
Licensing boards must notify license holders about complaints, request responses, and maintain confidential complaint files. Boards may settle discipline cases privately. Anyone may complain about someone issued a license or similar approval by a board run by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. A complaint must explain the alleged misconduct in enough detail for the accused person to understand the charges. If a board lacks authority over a complaint, it must tell the person who filed it. Boards may accept a surrendered license or negotiate a settlement with penalties. A settlement may remain confidential under its terms, but the original complainant must receive a status report upon request.
Landscape architect applicants can use at least eight years of satisfactory experience or education instead of graduating from an approved landscape architecture school. This alternative applies to people seeking an Idaho landscape architect license. Applicants must be at least 18, pass a board-approved examination, and show competence under board rules. The landscape architecture chapter does not apply to other licensed professionals practicing their own professions. These 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 221 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 30Delivered to Governor at 1:45 p.m. on March 27, 2026To Governor
- Mar 27Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 27Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 27Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 26Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 68 Nays 1 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26Rules Suspended: Ayes 68 Nays 1 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required – PASSED - 67-0-3AYES – 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, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – NoneAbsent – Green, Palmer, SkaugFloor Sponsor - RedmanTitle apvd - to enrolMajor
- Mar 26Read second time as amended in Senate; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Read first time as amended in Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 25Reported Engrossed; Filed for First Reading of Engrossed Bills
- Mar 24Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
- Mar 24Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 24House Concurred in Senate Amendments
- Mar 24Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 23Read third time as amended in the Senate – PASSED - 32-1-2AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – HarrisAbsent and excused – Adams, Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - LakeyTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time as amended in the Senate –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 17Read second time as amended in the Senate, filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 16Read first time as amended in the Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 16Amendments reported printed
- Mar 13Reported out as amended; filed for first reading
- Mar 13Amendments ordered printed
- Mar 13Placed in the Committee of the Whole
- Mar 6Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
- Feb 27Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human ResourcesMinor
- Feb 27Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Feb 26Read 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, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – NoneAbsent – Haws, McCannFloor Sponsor - RedmanTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Feb 24Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 17Reported Printed and Referred to Business
- Feb 16Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
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