This bill amends Section 67-4761 of the Idaho Code to revise the composition of the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board. The board will now include two nonvoting members with experience and knowledge of the broadband industry, one appointed by the speaker of the house and the other by the president pro tempore of the senate. Additionally, the bill stipulates that grant award grading and scoring may be conducted by an independent third party at the discretion of the advisory board, which will also receive recommendations from this third party.

The advisory board is tasked with creating a statewide broadband plan to prioritize and distribute grants from the Idaho broadband fund to areas in need. The plan must be adopted by a majority vote and will be made publicly available. The board is also responsible for administering the implementation of the plan and can revise it upon petition from any state agency, with a review process established for such petitions. The bill declares an emergency, making it effective on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 67-4761