Another bipartisan housing miracle, this time in Idaho

Idaho's recent legislative session sees a significant push for housing reform, driven by a bipartisan effort to address the state's growing housing crisis. The state legislature convened a land use and housing study committee in 2025, inspired by a similar initiative in Montana. The committee, comprising state legislators, developers, and city administrators, aimed to identify ways to reduce construction costs and streamline housing regulations. This collaboration resulted in several bills, with six passing successfully, aimed at increasing housing availability and affordability.

Key legislation includes a bill allowing homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right, which aims to provide additional housing options and generate supplemental income for homeowners. Other measures facilitate the construction of starter homes on smaller lots and streamline permitting processes to expedite housing development. Despite the successes, two significant bills, including one aimed at allowing duplexes in residential areas, failed to pass, highlighting ongoing challenges in balancing local control with the need for increased housing density.

Both Republican Senator Ben Taves and Democratic Representative Megan Egbert emphasize the importance of homeownership as a means of building community and wealth. They acknowledge the need for continued dialogue and legislative efforts to address the housing crisis, particularly as Idaho's rapid growth strains existing infrastructure and affordability. As the state prepares for the next legislative session, there is hope for further reforms and a commitment to ensuring that housing remains accessible for all Idahoans.

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Last year I did a pod on Montana’s surprising burst of bipartisan housing legislation. Turns out Idaho was watching. This year its legislature passed six housing bills of its own (two others failed). Republican state Sen. Ben Toews and Democratic state Rep. Megan Egbert join me to walk through what passed, what didn’t, and what they gave away to get it done — plus the property tax cap that quietly works against all of it, and why duplexes turned out to be the red line. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and the Idaho housing package 02:43 – How each guest came to the housing issue 06:39 – Inside the interim housing study committee 09:05 – SB 1354, ADUs by right, and Dillon’s Rule 12:52 – The 5,000 to 10,000 compromise, and HOAs 15:03 – SB 1352 starter homes, manufactured homes, lot splits 16:28 – HB 706 and single-stair buildings 18:11 – The permitting shot clock and the 6-day rule 19:48 – Living with the compromises, and why counties were left out 22:54 – The two bills that died: duplexes and YIGBY 28:41 – HB 389, the property tax cap, and the growth undertow 34:41 – What the public understands about growth 37:23 – Regulatory reform on supply side vs. incentives for housing 43:59 – The February deadline and city resistance 48:52 – Horizontal vs. vertical density 56:03 – What comes next for the committee & Idaho housing