IDAHO BROADBAND ADVISORY BOARD – Amends existing law to revise the composition of the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board and to provide that any grant award process shall be conducted by an independent third party.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Empowers the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board to use an independent third party to grade and score grants, boosting objectivity in funding for broadband in underserved areas.

Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2025 Session Law Chapter 115 Effective: 07/01/2025

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Summary: Idaho H 299 – Idaho Broadband Advisory Board Amendments (2025)

Overview
- Purpose: Amends the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board to revise its composition and to authorize an independent third party to conduct grant award grading and scoring, at the Board’s discretion.
- Status: Enacted as Chapter 115, signed by the Governor March 19, 2025; effective July 1, 2025 (emergency clause).

Key Provisions
- Board composition (new structure)
- House of Representatives: 3 voting members appointed by the Speaker.
- Senate: 3 voting members appointed by the President Pro Tempore.
- Nonvoting experts: 1 broadband-experienced member appointed by the Speaker; 1 broadband-experienced member appointed by the President Pro Tempore.
- Public members: 3 members appointed by the Governor.
- Summary: The bill expands the advisory board to include two nonvoting broadband-experienced members, augmenting the bipartite legislative membership with industry expertise.

Grant award process

The grant award grading and scoring may be conducted by an independent third party, at the advisory board’s discretion.
The independent third party provides recommendations to the advisory board.
Purpose: Enhance objectivity and transparency in evaluating broadband grants.

Statewide broadband plan and grant administration

The advisory board is responsible for creating a statewide broadband plan to structure, prioritize, and disperse grants from the Idaho broadband fund to underserved areas.
The board decides which broadband projects to undertake under the plan.
After adopting the plan, the board administers implementation and maintains/revises the plan as necessary.
The board will solicit participation from state agencies with relevant expertise; all state agencies must cooperate by providing research and information as needed.

Plan updates and petitions

Any state agency may petition the board to revise the statewide broadband plan.
The board must review petitions within three months and either revise the plan or provide written reasons for denial.

Administrative and effective details

The act is declared to be an emergency statute and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Fiscal note states no net revenue impact or additional expenditures for state or local government.

Who is Affected
- Idaho Department of Commerce (administers the Broadband Advisory Board and plan).
- Idaho Broadband Fund grant recipients and applicants.
- State agencies involved in broadband planning and implementation.
- General public in broadband-underserved areas (beneficiaries of grant programs).
- Legislative leadership (appointing nonvoting expert members) and governors (appointing public members).

Timing and Process
- Introduction: February 21, 2025.
- Final passage: March 2025; signed March 19, 2025.
- Effective date: July 1, 2025 (emergency clause in place).
- Ongoing: Board updates the statewide plan, coordinates with agencies, and revises as needed.