IdahoIdaho law sets county rules for filing civil lawsuits
Idaho law sets where people must file most civil cases, with special county rules for cases against insurers and Idaho corporations.
What it does
For most civil cases, the plaintiff must file where the claim arose or where a defendant lived. Special county rules apply to cases against insurers and Idaho corporations, and a court may move a case.
Argument forPeople bringing a lawsuit may be able to file where the claim arose or where a defendant lives, giving them a choice between counties.
Argument againstA defendant could have to defend a case in a county tied to the claim or an Idaho corporation’s business, even if they live or work elsewhere.
More detail
The law sets where civil lawsuits must be filed. For most civil cases, the plaintiff must file in the county where the claim arose or where any defendant lived when the case began. Other venue rules in this chapter or elsewhere in law can take priority. If no defendant resides in Idaho when the claim arises or before the complaint is filed, the plaintiff may choose any county. Cases against life or fire insurers may be filed where the death or loss occurred. Cases against Idaho corporations must be filed where the company’s main business is located or where the claim arose. A court may change the county where a case is tried as otherwise allowed by law. The law took effect 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 30Signed by Governor Brad Little on 03/26/26 Session Law Chapter 163 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 26Reported delivered to Governor at 4:33 p.m. on 03/25/26To Governor
- Mar 25Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Mar 25Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 24Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Mar 24Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Mar 23Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 68-0-2AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, 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, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – NoneAbsent – Berch, CornillesFloor Sponsor - ShirtsTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 20Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 19Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 16Read First Time, Referred to Judiciary, Rules & AdministrationMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 16Read third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woller(Rabe), Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - HartTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 13Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 5Reported Printed; referred to Judiciary & Rules
- Mar 4Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced