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H 378

TRANSPARENCY IN LEGISLATIVE TRAVEL – Adds to existing law to require legislative candidates, legislators, and members-elect of the Legislature to report certain travel paid by others.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Requires legislators, candidates, and members-elect to publicly report travel paid by others that relates to legislative purposes, with details within 30 days.

Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
#government #legislature #records #reports #secretaryofstate
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Bill Summary · H 378

Idaho House Bill H 378 — Transparency in Legislative Travel

Status: Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
Introduced: March 6, 2025
Official Title: TRANSPARENCY IN LEGISLATIVE TRAVEL – Adds to existing law to require legislative candidates, legislators, and members-elect of the Legislature to report certain travel paid by others

What the bill does (purpose and intent)

  • Establishes a new chapter (Chapter 7) in Title 74 to promote public confidence and transparency by requiring certain legislative officials to disclose travel funded by others.
  • Clarifies that travel paid by others, related to legislative/governmental purposes, must be reported, with information about who paid and the travel details.

Key provisions and requirements

Who must report

  • Legislative officials include:
    • Legislative candidates appearing on a general election ballot
    • Members of the Idaho Legislature
    • Members-elect who have prevailed in a general election but have not yet taken the oath of office

What travel must be reported

  • Travel outside Idaho that is reasonably related to a legislative/governmental purpose or to issues of state, national, or international public policy.
  • Travel paid for by another individual or entity.
  • Excludes travel paid through:
    • Campaign funds (reported under existing chapter 66, title 67)
    • Personal funds of the legislative official

What must be reported (within 30 days of travel return)

  • Destination of travel
  • Travel dates
  • Purpose of travel
  • Paid-by information:
    • Name and address of the payer
    • Whether the travel was a campaign contribution
    • For current members, whether the travel occurred in the official capacity as a legislator

Penalties for noncompliance

  • If the required report is not filed within 30 days, a late fee of $25 per day applies until the report is filed.
  • Late fees are deposited into the public school income fund.

Administrative and effective details

  • A filing portal would be added to the Secretary of State’s reporting system to support these disclosures.
  • Emergency status: The act includes an emergency clause; it would become effective on July 1, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Legislative candidates, current legislators, and new members-elect who receive travel paid by others related to legislative or governmental purposes.
  • Payers of such travel (individuals or entities) as disclosed to the Secretary of State.
  • Secretary of State’s office, which would implement the filing portal and maintain disclosures.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Fiscal note: Estimated $5,000 to implement the filing portal.
  • House actions:
    • Introduced 3/6/2025; referred to State Affairs
    • Passed House 3/13/2025 (47-22-1AYES; various nays listed)
    • Received in Senate 3/14/2025; referred to State Affairs
    • Committee reported out 3/26/2025; to 14th Order for amendment
  • Effective date if enacted: July 1, 2025 (emergency clause)

Potential impact

  • Increases transparency around outside-funded legislative travel.
  • Creates a standardized, public-facing record of travel paid by others.
  • Imposes a reporting timeline and a modest daily late-fee penalty to enforce timely disclosures.
  • Administrative cost to the Secretary of State for a new filing portal.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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