This bill amends Chapter 18, Title 36 of the Idaho Code by adding a new section, 36-1808, which focuses on the planning and development of public outdoor target ranges in Idaho. The legislation recognizes the importance of the Coeur d'Alene skeet and trap club and aims to ensure its continuation while also expanding public outdoor target range opportunities in north Idaho. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is tasked with developing a long-term plan for a shotgun sporting complex adjacent to Farragut State Park, which must be publicly available and reviewed by legislative committees during the 2027 session. The plan will include specific facilities and infrastructure to support the complex, and the commission is required to coordinate with the Department of Fish and Game to ensure the complex is operational by December 31, 2040.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that the skeet and trap shooting range in Kootenai County must remain operational while the Department of Fish and Game leases the land until the new complex is opened. The department is responsible for the management of the shooting range and must continue leasing the land until the complex is available to the public. The commission is authorized to apply for federal funds under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to support the development and operation of the complex, and it must report annually on its activities related to the acquisition and planning of the properties involved. An emergency clause is included, making the act effective on July 1, 2026.