Idaho House Passes Bill Requiring Immigration Status Tracking for Arrested Individuals

The Idaho House of Representatives passed House Bill 660 on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, mandating that law enforcement agencies track the immigration status and nationality of individuals arrested within the state. The bill now proceeds to the Senate for further consideration.

Bill Details and Requirements

House Bill 660 directs local, county, and state law enforcement to record the immigration status of individuals at the time of arrest and to produce biannual public reports detailing this information. KIVI-TV reports that agencies failing to comply with the bill’s requirements could face a withholding of state funding.

Support and Opposition

Representative Dale Hawkins, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that the law is intended to gather information during the booking process and does not authorize or require officers to enforce immigration laws during traffic stops or other field interactions.

However, the bill faces opposition from several law enforcement organizations, including the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police, and the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association. Concerns raised include the potential workload increase for agencies and challenges accessing federal databases needed to verify immigration status. Idaho Capital Sun also notes concerns about the potential for the reporting requirements to create difficult situations for local officers.

Legislative Process and Background

The Idaho House passed the bill with a vote of 40-30. KTVB reports that several lawmakers broke from party lines during the vote. Representative Hawkins stated that the bill was developed in partnership with the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation.

Concerns Regarding Implementation

Opponents, such as Representative Steve Berch, have questioned the bill’s vagueness and potential to overwhelm already strained local agencies.