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ID H0579
Bill
Status
Engrossed
2/12/2026
Primary Sponsor
Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee
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AI Summary
- Amends Idaho Code Section 18-4009 to expand the justifiable homicide defense-of-others provision by replacing the specific list of protected relationships ("wife or husband, parent, child, master, mistress or servant") with the broader term "another person"
- Allows any person to justifiably use lethal force in defense of any other person — not just enumerated family members or household relations — when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a felony or great bodily injury and imminent danger
- Retains all other existing provisions of the justifiable homicide statute, including defense of habitation, place of business, occupied vehicle, and property, as well as the presumption that unlawful forced or stealthy entry implies felonious intent
- Maintains the requirement that if the person defended was the assailant or engaged in mortal combat, they must have genuinely and in good faith attempted to withdraw before the homicide occurred
- Declares an emergency and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026
Legislative Description
Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding justifiable homicide.
JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE
Last Action
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules
2/13/2026
Committee Referrals
Judiciary and Rules2/13/2026
Judiciary, Rules and Administration2/5/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available