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This week on Idaho Reports...

SINE DIE 2026

Lawmakers have officially adjourned the 2026 legislative session and are headed home for the year — but what will Governor Brad Little do now that the ball is officially in his court?

With chippy debates over policy and budgets, and public fights over process and rules, the 2026 session is going out with a bang. House State Affairs Chairman Brent Crane and Senate Minority Caucus Chair Janie Ward-Engelking discuss their concerns with how the legislative process ran this year. Plus, what lawmakers are doing to stop big new data centers from raising power prices for everyone.

Motivated to Adjourn | April 3, 2026

Also this week, the US Department of Justice announced it is suing Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane for declining to turn over full voter registration information to the Trump administration. 

In a statement, Sec. McGrane said, “I’m confident in Idaho’s elections and the efforts we’ve led to ensure secure and accessible elections. This includes our extensive voter roll maintenance efforts... We have worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security to review all registered voters in Idaho to guarantee that only citizens vote in our elections.”

The Secretary of State’s office also confirmed that the Idaho Attorney General’s office will represent Secretary McGrane in the lawsuit. Idaho Reports will continue to follow this story. 

Also this week, we take a look at what lawmakers did to ensure new large load power users like hyperscale datacenters are held financially responsible for their full cost of electicity.

If signed into law, the Public Utilities Commission would review new large load contracts – defined as a facility using 50 MW over 5 years – to ensure existing service quality is expected to be maintained, and that the new load is responsible for its full cost of service.

"My biggest priority this year was to make sure we don't have data centers socializing rates across regular Idahoans," said HB 911 sponsor Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls. "That has taken almost two worth years of work — so that's probably my greatest accomplishment this legislative session, to get that bill done."

Representatives convene on the House floor Thursday. (Sean Dolan/Idaho EdNews)

• MENTAL HEALTH: Gov. Little on Thursday signed into law a bill to restore Medicaid mental health Assertive Community Treatment programs that the state cut. In less than three months since a Medicaid contractor cut the mobile treatment program for people with severe mental illnesses, four patients died. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• AGENCY HEADS: Gov. Little signed a bill that changes how some state agency directors are appointed. The bill has raised concerns from opponents that the law could jeopardize the future of Harriman State Park. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• PROTESTERS ARRESTED: Protestors who opposed anti-trans bills were arrested Wednesday in the Idaho governor’s office at the Capitol after refusing to leave after the office closed, according to Idaho State Police. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

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