How much did it cost taxpayers for Idaho Law Enforcement to testify against immigration bills?

Idaho law enforcement officers testified against immigration enforcement bills before the Legislature. The question is whether Idaho taxpayers paid for it.

Public records requests filed	9
Agencies resolved	5
Fee disputes active	2
In violation or no response	2

Findings so far

$1,791 in confirmed taxpayer dollars

Between Homedale PD ($2.85 in confirmed travel) and Bonner County SO ($1,788.73 in ISA-related travel on a county corporate card), records confirm nearly $1,800 in public funds spent on law enforcement association activity.

24 confirmed testimony incidents

At least 24 separate in-person appearances by Idaho law enforcement officials before legislative committees, confirmed from named news sources including the Idaho Press, Idaho Capital Sun, and CdA Press.

1 agency with zero response

Hailey PD, whose chief testified against HB659 on behalf of ICOPA, has ignored every contact. No response, no delay notice, no denial. A final demand was sent. No court petition will be filed. The public record is the non-response.

What this is about

During the 2026 Idaho legislative session, law enforcement officials from across the state came to Boise to testify against bills that would have required Idaho agencies to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

The question is simple: were Idaho taxpayers paying for that? When a police chief drives 150 miles to the Capitol on a Tuesday to testify against a bill, is he on the clock? Did his department pay for fuel, a hotel, meals? Did a taxpayer-funded salary cover those hours?

Public records requests went to every agency whose officials were confirmed to have appeared in person. Some cooperated. Some did not. Two are disputing fees. One has not responded to a single contact.

The bills

HB659: Mandatory 287(g) ICE agreements: Would have required Idaho law enforcement agencies to enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE to perform immigration enforcement functions.
HB660: Immigration status recording on arrests: Would have required Idaho law enforcement to record and report the immigration status of individuals arrested for criminal offenses.
SB1442: Omnibus immigration enforcement: Late-session omnibus bill combining immigration enforcement and refugee reporting requirements.

Floor votes and related contributions for these bills are in the farm labor influence map.

Open requests

Hailey PD. Zero response to every contact. No §74-115 petition will be filed. The record is the silence.
Canyon County SO. Past the April 14 statutory deadline, violation notice sent, no response from Sheriff Donahue.
Ada County SO. Disputed $1,397.32 fee estimate including 14 hours of attorney time at $79.53/hr. Pushback sent April 30, response due May 5.
Meridian PD. Disputed fee estimate, pushback sent, no response to the challenge.

The full report, with every document, cost figure, and non-response, will be published when the record is complete.

Know something? [email protected]