An Act banning the purchase and consumption of products made in Russia

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Patrick Kearney

Prohibits ownership or control of Idaho electrical transmission facilities by entities primarily governed by another state, requiring divestment within up to two years.

Hearing scheduled for 10/20/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2

Idaho House Bill 415 (H 415) — Summary

Overview

Bill: H 415, introduced March 18, 2025, in the Idaho House (Ways and Means Committee)

Purpose: To restrict ownership of Idaho’s energy infrastructure by entities primarily governed or created by another state, in order to maintain local control over critical electrical transmission facilities.

Status: Introduced and referred to State Affairs; later advanced through the House (final House action reported as “PASSED” on 2025-03-25 and transmitted to the Senate). Includes an emergency clause; effective on passage.

Fiscal note: No anticipated state or local fiscal impact; the sponsor’s note states no new expenditures or revenues.

Key Provisions

New law addition: Section 61-338, Idaho Code, establishing restrictions on ownership of energy infrastructure.

Prohibition (Section 61-338(1)):

No entity established, chartered, or primarily governed by another U.S. state (or an agency thereof) may acquire, hold, or operate any ownership interest in Idaho’s electrical transmission facilities, including transmission lines, substations, and related infrastructure involved in interstate or intrastate transmission.

Exemptions (Section 61-338(2)):

(a) Does not apply to private entities, investor-owned utilities, cooperative utilities, or independent transmission developers that are not directly created or controlled by another state government.
(b) Does not prohibit Idaho-based utilities or businesses from entering into contractual transmission service arrangements with out-of-state entities.

Oversight (Section 61-338(3)):

Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is authorized to review and authenticate the ownership of electrical transmission infrastructure to ensure compliance.

Compliance deadline (Section 61-338(4)):

Any violation must divest the prohibited ownership within a period determined by the PUC, but no later than two years from the effective date of the section.

Effective date (Section 61-338(5) and Section 3):

Emergency clause declares the act in effect upon passage and approval.

Who is Affected

Affected: Entities that are primarily governed or controlled by another state (or an agency thereof) that hold or seek ownership in Idaho’s electrical transmission facilities.

Potentially exempt: Idaho-based utilities, private entities not controlled by another state government, investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, and independent transmission developers not created/controlled by another state government.

Contracting: Allows contractual transmission service relationships with out-of-state entities, provided ownership is not acquired.

Compliance and Enforcement

PUC role: Verify and authenticate ownership to ensure alignment with 61-338.

Divestment: Prohibited owners must divest within up to two years (deadline set by the PUC).

Procedural Timeline & Actions

Introduced: March 18, 2025

Committee/First Reading: March 18, 2025; referred to State Affairs

House actions: Read second time; reported with Do Pass; third reading completed and passed in the House on March 25, 2025 (45-23-1 AYEs/NAYs noted; sponsor names Barbieri & Gannon)

Next steps: Transmission to the Idaho Senate (title approved) for further consideration

Notes

The bill emphasizes state control of critical energy infrastructure and national implications of cross-border ownership.

The emergency clause aims to implement the restrictions promptly upon enactment.