BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — A bill making its way through the Idaho Legislature would legalize the use of fentanyl testing strips.
Fentanyl testing strips are legal in most states, but under Idaho law, they are considered paraphernalia. Rep. Marco Erickson, R-Idaho Falls, and House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, have teamed up to change that through House Bill 441.
In a House Health and Welfare Committee hearing Thursday morning, the cosponsors said the bill would declassify fentanyl testing strips as paraphernalia. The bill, they said, would act as a step to prevent fentanyl overdoses in Idaho — where 49% of overdose deaths in 2022 involved fentanyl, or 188 deaths out of 381 drug overdoses.
“This will be just very helpful for people to be able to cheaply and easily make sure they aren’t being inadvertently poisoned by fentanyl,” Rubel said.
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Fentanyl testing strips are endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which considers the strips a low-cost way to prevent drug users from overdosing by detecting the presence of fentanyl in different kinds of drugs and drug forms.
Erickson, who has worked in drug treatment and prevention, said Idaho is one of six states where the testing strips are criminalized. And yet, fentanyl strips can be ordered online through websites like Amazon, he said.
Committee members heard from two university students and a representative from the ACLU of Idaho during Thursday’s hearing, all of whom testified in support of the bill.
Caden Stone, the government relations officer for the Associated Students of Boise State University, began his testimony by recalling his time as a high school student at Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene, when one of his 15-year-old classmates died from a fentanyl overdose.
“Now I understand folks’ reservations about decriminalizing opioid testing strips,” he said. “But the reality of the matter is (overdoses are) happening. We must use testing strips to avoid every unavoidable death that we can. We’ve been taking action on campus as student leaders. Lives are being saved, and we want you to join us.”
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Members of the committee voted to send House Bill 441 to the House floor with a recommendation that it pass.
This is at least the second bill this year in which Idaho legislators have made it clear that addressing fentanyl overdoses is a priority. Also on Thursday, the Idaho Senate in a 28-7 vote passed House Bill 406, which would require mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl traffickers. After passing both chambers, House Bill 406 is now headed to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration.
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The rotunda as seen on March 16, 2026, at the Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)
Ahead of the 2026 primary elections, the League of Women Voters of Idaho is teaming up with several local groups to hold candidate forums and voter education events in the hopes of boosting voter turnout.
The groups invited all candidates for public office in Ada and Canyon County’s commissions, and inlegislative district 11, which is in Canyon County.
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The groups that are hosting include Mormon Women for Ethical Government, the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of University Women’s Boise branch and the College of Idaho’s Masters of Applied Public Policy Program.
Here’s when and where the forums are:
Ada County Commissioner District 2:7-8:30 p.m. April 24 at Meridian City Hall, located at 33 E. Broadway Ave. in Meridian.
Ada County Commissioner District 1:7-8:30 p.m. April 28 at Valley View Elementary School, located at 3555 N Milwaukee St. in Boise.
Legislative District 11:6:30-8:30 p.m. April 30 at Caldwell City Hall, located at 205 S. 6th Ave. in Caldwell.
Canyon County Commissioner:6-8 p.m. May 7 at Caldwell City Hall, 205 S. 6th Ave. in Caldwell.
Learn more about candidates at the League of Women Voters’ online voter guide,VOTE411.ORG.
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BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — Idaho drivers wanting to celebrate America’s anniversary this year now have a unique way to do that. The Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles has released an America 250 license plate to mark the occasion.
The new license plate includes an American flag on a blue background with the words “America 250” and the dates “1776 – 2026.”
The plate requires an extra fee that will go toward supporting the Idaho Heritage Trust, according to an Idaho Transportation Department news release. The specific fee wasn’t listed.
“This plate gives Idahoans a chance to mark a historic milestone and show their pride on the road,” said Lisa McClellan, DMV administrator, in a statement. “We’re proud to offer a design that honors our country’s past while supporting Idaho’s efforts to preserve its own history.”
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The America 250 license plate was released to celebrate a historic national milestone. | Idaho Transportation Department
Idaho’s favorite license plate
The new license plate may give Idaho’s favorite a run for its money.
The Idaho Transportation Department recently held a “Battle of the Plates” vote to find out which license plate Idahoans loved best.
The Forests Forever plate was crowned the champion on April 7. Funds generated from this plate go toward Idaho replanting and reforestation projects, as well as environmental education programs for Idaho students and teachers.
“One of Idaho’s newest plates, Forests Forever made a strong run and came out on top, highlighting just how much Idahoans value our forests and natural resources,” the transportation department said in a social media post.
Idahoans chose Forests Forever as their favorite specialty license plate. | Idaho Transportation Department
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