Gem County

House Bill 747 would fundamentally change mosquito abatement in Idaho — and not for the better.

What It Does:

Allows landowners to opt out of mosquito and other abatement programs with a simple note — no alternative abatement plan required. This increases health risks to people and animals.

Removes clear authority for districts to enter property.

Creates sanctuary properties for mosquitoes.

Your neighbor’s property could become a mosquito breeding ground and there is nothing we could do about it, as this lets them not have to manage standing water or control mosquitoes under this new bill.

Restricts aerial adulticide use until after a declared emergency.

Creates a private cause of action exposing counties to fines and litigation.

Why It Matters:

This bill:

Creates legal uncertainty and invites lawsuits.

Slows response to mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile.

Leaves counties responsible for penalties — even when districts are separate taxing entities.

Puts public health, livestock, and livelihoods at risk.

Mosquitoes don’t wait for emergency declarations. Abatement professionals need proactive tools — not reactive limitations.

Other Unintended Impacts of House Bill 747:

Any language changes enacted by HB747 relating to abatement districts would also impact other pest abatement districts created as a special taxing district where the district residents have elected to fund abatement services for vermin such as pocket gophers and rockchucks, and would be subject to program modifications outlined in Title 39, Ch. 28. Specifically:

The right to enter upon private lands would be nullified, and pest abatement constituents would be required to provide access to property in writing.

The pest abatement district’s ability to use any and all means necessary to abate pests within the district would be limited.

The pest abatement district’s ability to approve pest and vermin management plans would be nullified.

It is unclear whether the publishing requirement in House Bill 743 would apply to a pest abatement district, but because changes to the statute would affect all abatement districts, districts would likely be compelled to comply, increasing the fiscal impact.

Legal liability, insurance costs, administrative burden, and litigation costs would increase significantly, particularly for applications to properties where landowner permission might have been implied but not explicitly granted.

Please don’t wait! Email them now to vote no to HB747

<JMonks@house.idaho.gov>, <DPickett@house.idaho.gov>, <JCrane@house.idaho.gov>, <SBerch@house.idaho.gov>, <MChurch@house.idaho.gov>, <VBar@house.idaho.gov>, <EBingham@house.idaho.gov>, <JBoyle@house.idaho.gov>, <CBruce@house.idaho.gov>, <TBurgoyne@house.idaho.gov>, <DCannon@house.idaho.gov>, <RCheatum@house.idaho.gov>, <BCrane@house.idaho.gov>, <SDygert@house.idaho.gov>, <MEgbert@house.idaho.gov>, <MErickson@house.idaho.gov>, <BFuhriman@house.idaho.gov>, <RFurniss@house.idaho.gov>, <SGalaviz@house.idaho.gov>, <JGannon@house.idaho.gov>, <DGarner@house.idaho.gov>, <BGreen@house.idaho.gov>, <DHall@house.idaho.gov>, <CHandy@house.idaho.gov>, <KHarris@house.idaho.gov>, <AHendersonHaws@house.idaho.gov>, <DHealey@house.idaho.gov>, <THill@house.idaho.gov>, <JHoltzclaw@house.idaho.gov>, <DManwaring@house.idaho.gov>, <KMarmon@house.idaho.gov>, <CMathias@house.idaho.gov>, <LMcCann@house.idaho.gov>, <RMendive@house.idaho.gov>, <SMickelsen@house.idaho.gov>, <SMiller@house.idaho.gov>, <BMitchell@house.idaho.gov>, <MMoyle@house.idaho.gov>, <JNelsen@house.idaho.gov>, <JPalmer@house.idaho.gov>, <JPetzke@house.idaho.gov>, <MPohanka@house.idaho.gov>, <BRaybould@house.idaho.gov>, <JRaymond@house.idaho.gov>, <JRedman@house.idaho.gov>, <IRubel@house.idaho.gov>, <MSauter@house.idaho.gov>, <HScott@house.idaho.gov>, <CShepherd@house.idaho.gov>, <JShirts@house.idaho.gov>, <BSkaug@house.idaho.gov>, <JTanner@house.idaho.gov>, <STanner@house.idaho.gov>, <FThompson@house.idaho.gov>, <JVanderWoude@house.idaho.gov>, <MVeile@house.idaho.gov>, <JWeber@house.idaho.gov>, <JoshWheeler@house.idaho.gov>, <TWisniewski@house.idaho.gov>