IdahoIdaho governor appoints three department directors, with Senate review
Starting July 1, 2026, the governor appoints these three department directors subject to Senate approval, and certain current directors must be considered for confirmation.
What it does
The governor appoints the directors of Idaho’s fish and game, transportation, and parks departments, subject to Senate approval. The fish and game director works under the commission’s direction.
The Senate must consider these directors for confirmation at its first regular session of the 69th Idaho Legislature if they were appointed on or before July 1, 2026.
Argument forHaving the governor choose these leaders could make the state’s top elected official more accountable for department leadership.
Argument againstGovernor control could give department boards less influence over leaders who carry out the boards’ work.
More detail
The governor appoints the directors of Idaho’s fish and game, transportation, and parks departments. This covers the directors of the Idaho departments of fish and game, transportation, and parks and recreation. The Senate must give its advice and consent to these appointments. The fish and game director works under the commission’s direction. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
The Senate considers certain department directors for confirmation. This applies to fish and game, transportation, and parks directors appointed on or before July 1, 2026. The text says the directors must be considered for confirmation; it does not say they are automatically confirmed. The consideration takes place at the first regular session of the 69th Idaho Legislature.
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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 1Signed by Governor Brad Little on 04/01/26 Session Law Chapter 267 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 27Reported delivered to Governor at 3:48 p.m. on 03/26/26To Governor
- Mar 26Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Mar 26Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 25Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Mar 25Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Mar 24Rules Suspended: Ayes 67 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 3, read in full as required – PASSED - 41-29-0AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Hall(Stone), Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Pickett, Price, Rasor, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Berch, Bingham, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Egbert, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Handy, Haws, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mickelsen, Nelsen, Petzke, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Veile, Weber, WheelerAbsent – NoneFloor Sponsor - PickettTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 67 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 3, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 23Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 3Read First Time, Referred to State AffairsMinor
- Mar 3Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 2Read third time in full – PASSED - 21-14-0AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Bruner(Adams), Carlson, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Burtenshaw, Cook, Grow, Guthrie, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - OkuniewiczTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Retained on calendar
- Mar 2Retained on calendar
- Feb 25Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Feb 24Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Feb 17Reported Printed; referred to State Affairs
- Feb 16Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
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