Idaho bill would require refugee service audits and police arrest reports

Idaho-based organizations providing refugee resettlement services would have to give the legislature an annual audit. The audit must report how many refugees were served, their backgrounds and language skills, where they are housed, and health statistics. The duty covers organizations incorporated in Idaho that provide resettlement services under a federal grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. The audit is annual; the text gives no first due date.

Idaho-based organizations providing refugee resettlement services would be barred from certain actions that help people stay in the country unlawfully. It applies to organizations incorporated under Idaho law that provide refugee resettlement services. The ban covers hiding or concealing someone, transporting them to help them remain unlawfully, or encouraging or inducing them to remain unlawfully.

Law enforcement agencies would have to check and record the immigration status and nationality of people they arrest while carrying out criminal justice duties. This covers state and local agencies, including state police, city police, and county sheriff's offices. Agencies must act consistently with the referenced Idaho law. The measure states it would take effect July 1, 2026.

Law enforcement agencies would have to report arrest information to the state controller, who would post the reports online; the attorney general could seek a court order, and the legislature could withhold state funds for uncured violations. Reports must include arrested people's immigration status and nationality, related crime statistics, transfers to federal officials, and reasons for noncompliance, if any. The attorney general must notify an agency of a violation and give it 30 days to fix the problem before seeking a court order. The legislature may withhold state funding if the agency does not fix it. The first report would be due by October 1, 2026, and agencies would report twice a year.