Saturday, July 18, 2026 · Off-Session

Idaho Politics

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Congress

Idaho’s Crapo Teams With Florida Senator to Criminalize Fentanyl Pill Press Imports

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined forces with Senator Ashley Moody (R-Florida) on July 16 to introduce legislation that would make it a federal crime to intentionally import the equipment and chemicals used to manufacture counterfeit fentanyl pills on American soil. The bill, designated S. 4446 and titled the PRESS Act, targets a key link […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 17, 2026
Congress

Risch and Crapo Back Interior Department Plan to Shift Grizzly Bear Oversight to Idaho and Other States

Idaho’s two U.S. senators are backing a new federal proposal that would hand greater management authority over grizzly bears to state agencies, following an announcement from the Interior Department on July 15. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik announced a revised rule proposal that would transfer […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 16, 2026
Congress

Risch Introduces Senate Bill to Mandate Annual Geothermal Lease Sales, Clearing Path After House Passage

Idaho Senator Jim Risch introduced legislation this week requiring the federal Bureau of Land Management to hold geothermal energy lease sales every year, moving to align the Senate with a companion measure that cleared the House unanimously last month. The CLEAN Act The bill, formally titled the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act, sets […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 16, 2026
Congress

Fulcher Polls Idahoans on Federal Land Policy as Closure Figures Draw Scrutiny

U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) launched an online survey this week asking constituents how they think federal land in Idaho should be managed, covering topics from recreation and wildlife to roads, permitting, and maintenance. A Large Footprint, a Contested Debate Federal agencies control nearly two-thirds of Idaho’s total land area, making public land policy one […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 15, 2026
Congress

Retired Air Force General Runs as Independent Against Idaho’s Russ Fulcher, Citing GOP’s Fiscal Drift

A retired Air Force major general who once called herself a Republican is mounting an independent bid for Idaho’s First Congressional District, taking on four-term incumbent Rep. Russ Fulcher in what would be an exceptionally rare upset if successful. Sarah Zabel, who moved to Idaho in 2020 after a three-decade military career and subsequent work […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 8, 2026
Elections

Idaho Senate Race Sits Within a Broader 2026 Battle for Chamber Control

With 35 U.S. Senate seats on the ballot in November 2026, Idaho’s contest is part of a sweeping national map that will determine whether Republicans hold their majority or Democrats engineer a come-from-behind takeover of the chamber. Where the Senate Stands Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority, a figure that includes two independents who […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 6, 2026
Congress

Crapo Pushes for Idaho Community Lenders to Tap Federal CDFI Programs After Grant Materials Released

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is urging community development lenders across the state to move quickly after federal grant application materials became available Tuesday for two key lending programs. The Office of Management and Budget released Notices of Funding Availability for the Bank Enterprise Award (BEA) and Small Dollar Loan (SDL) programs housed within the CDFI […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 2, 2026