2025 Idaho Legislature: Tax cuts and death penalty change

Idaho lawmakers stormed through a packed 2025 session that reshaped taxes, crime policy, and health care. This list of stories outlines a $253 million income tax cut, stricter fines for marijuana possession, and a switch to firing squads as the state's preferred death penalty method. The Legislature also advanced controversial bills such as over-the-counter ivermectin sales and new restrictions on Medicaid expansion.

Hot debates erupted over immigration enforcement, medical freedom, and changes to university budgets. Idaho now stands out as the only state favoring firing squads. It also boosted penalties for pot and cut taxes.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Weedology, which hopes to be the first Ontario dispensary open, hence their signature “Ontario’s No. 1 dispensary” on the sign at right. The 80-foot sign is supposed to be visible from the interstate. By Katherine Jones

NO. 1: IDAHO IMPOSES NEW MINIMUM FINE FOR LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA POSSESSION — LIKELY STEEPEST IN US

Gov. Brad Little signed the bill into law Monday. It requires a minimum fine of $300 for misdemeanor cannabis possession. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler

Governor Brad Little speaks at a press conference about the upcoming legislative session held at the Capitol, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. By Sarah A. Miller

NO. 2: ‘MORE HUMANE’? IDAHO BECOMES ONLY STATE TO PREFER FIRING SQUAD TO CARRY OUT DEATH PENALTY

“Shooting prisoners to death has consequences for the reputation of the state,” a national death penalty expert said. | Published March 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kevin Fixler

Gov. Brad Little provides his vision for the 2024 Idaho Legislative session during his State of the State address, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at the Statehouse in Boise. By Darin Oswald

NO. 3: DESPITE VOICING EARLIER CONCERNS, GOVERNOR SIGNS LARGEST INCOME TAX CUT IN IDAHO HISTORY

“Idaho families and businesses need and deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money,” Gov. Brad Little said. | Published March 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carolyn Komatsoulis

Gov. Brad Little presents his plan for Idaho during the annual State of the State address in front of the Idaho Legislature and state leadership at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. By Darin Oswald

NO. 4: IDAHO CONTINUES ITS ‘HISTORIC’ TAX CUTS. HERE’S WHAT RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT

Little had said the hundreds of millions in tax cuts could leave Idaho vulnerable. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler

Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. By Darin Oswald

NO. 5: IDAHO GOV. BRAD LITTLE SIGNS NEW LAW TO CUT MEDICAID EXPANSION. HERE’S WHAT IT MEANS

“We want Idahoans to become as self-sufficient as possible,” Little said. | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler

Yelling pro-immigration chants and holding signs decrying racism and deportation orders, several hundred people gathered at Statehouse steps for a protest. The event ended with a march around the Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. By Darin Oswald

NO. 6: GOV. LITTLE SIGNS IDAHO BILL ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. ACLU SUES, WINS INJUNCTION

“Every other court to have considered similar laws ... has stopped laws like this one from going into effect.” | Published March 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carolyn Komatsoulis

NO. 7: IDAHO LAWMAKERS OK DEATH PENALTY EXPANSION THAT WAS STRUCK DOWN BY SUPREME COURT

The Republican sponsor said he expects a legal challenge that could overturn a 5-4 decision by the justices. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kyle Pfannenstiel

Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) co-chairs Sen. C. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, and Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, talk before the start of the meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. By Sarah A. Miller

NO. 8: WHY ARE IDAHO BUDGETS SO HARD TO PASS? HOW LAWMAKERS ARE SETTING ‘CONDITIONS’ FOR MONEY

In one budget bill, lawmakers required the Idaho Commission for Libraries to swear by affidavit that school libraries aren’t disseminating harmful material to minors. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carolyn Komatsoulis Hayat Norimine

NO. 9: IDAHO LEGISLATIVE SESSION MARKED BY BUDGET CONFLICTS, ‘MEDICAL FREEDOM,’ TAX CUTS

“The DOGE phenomenon is sweeping across the nation,” one senator said. “We want to be part of that in Idaho.” | Published April 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler Carolyn Komatsoulis Hayat Norimine

Ivermectin has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment or prevention of COVID-19.

NO. 10: IDAHO LEGISLATURE PASSES IVERMECTIN DEREGULATION BILL TO ALLOW OVER-THE-COUNTER SALES

Backed by Idaho Republican legislative leaders, the bill cleared the House and Senate floors in one day — without doctor input. | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kyle Pfannenstiel

NO. 11: GOV. LITTLE KEEPS EMERGENCY FUND USED IN IDAHO HOMICIDES INVESTIGATION

The funding was used to assist the police investigation into the killings of four University of Idaho students. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee Hayat Norimine

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.