Idaho Non-Motorized Trails Initiative Legislative Recap and new Bill, HB487

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session – 2025
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. 487
BY PETZKE
AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATION;

…. ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 67-7141, IDAHO CODE, TO CREATE A NONMOTORIZED
RECREATION FUND
; …… TO ESTABLISH PROVISIONS REGARDING THE USE OF MONEYS IN THE NONMOTORIZED RECREATION FUND;….

….ANNUAL REGISTRATION. The annual fee for operating each
pickup truck, each neighborhood electric vehicle and each other motor vehicle having a maximum gross weight not in excess of eight thousand (8,000) pounds and that complies with the federal motor vehicle safety standards as defined in section 49-107, Idaho Code, shall be:
Vehicles one (1) and two (2) years old ………….………….$69.00
Vehicles three (3) and four (4) years old ………………….$57.00
Vehicles five (5) and six (6) years old …………………………$57.00
Vehicles seven (7) and eight (8) years old ………………$45.00
Vehicles over eight (8) years old …………………….………..$45.00

…. Ten percent (10%) shall be deposited into the nonmotorized recreation fund ….

...VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUNDS.

A resident or nonresident may make a voluntary donation to support:
The state snowmobile fund…
The cross-country skiing recreation fund …
The OHV recreation fund …
or
The nonmotorized recreation fund

…Section 67-7141, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
67-7141. NONMOTORIZED RECREATION — NONMOTORIZED RECREATION FUND
CREATED. There is hereby established in the state treasury a fund to be known
and designated as the nonmotorized recreation fund to be administered by the
director. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated to it …, and such other moneys that may be provided by legislative appropriation.
…. The moneys derived from the nonmotorized recreation fund shall be used as follows:
(1) For the securing of special leases, use licenses, recreation easements, or permits or for the actual purchase of land under private, state, or federal ownership to be used for public recreational nonmotorized activity;
(2) For the securing, maintenance, construction, or development of trails and other public recreational facilities enhancing nonmotorized use on private, state, and federal lands;
(3) To finance the formulation and implementation, under the park and recreation board’s direction, of a nonmotorized user education program;
(4) To acquire applicable matching federal funds;
(5) To enforce the laws and regulations governing nonmotorized recreational opportunities in the state of Idaho; and
(6) To distribute to governmental entities, Indian tribes, and nongovernmental organizations through an annual grant process determined by
the department.

No more than fifty percent (50%) of moneys derived from the
fund shall be used for the grants …

DISTRIBUTION OF MONEYS. The parks and recreation service fee collected shall be distributed each month …

I am reaching out to invite you to a meeting to discuss the legislative efforts on Non-Motorized trails funding over the last few months. HB57, which created a first of its kind Non-motorized trails funding was pushed through committee and ultimately pulled on the house floor before the vote and in the last hours of the Session HB0487 was introduced as a replacement, which covers all of recreation and affects both motorized and non-motorized trails as well as State Parks. I plan to give the highlights of the efforts for HB57 and its demise then go into the details of HB487 which will be voted on next year when the legislature comes back into session. 

Furthermore, I will be sending an additional meeting invite to the Idaho Recreation Councils meeting on June 28th. If you plan to attend, please RSVP. This will be a great opportunity to come together as an entire recreation industry from across Idaho to discuss this bill and other issues affecting recreation in Idaho. It will be a great time to discuss issues both motorized and non-motorized trails alike and find ways to improve all of our state’s recreation opportunities. Feel free to forward this meeting to other groups that would be interested in this discussion.  

Please see the zoom meeting info below as well as the attached legislation for your review. And let me know if there are any questions. 

The meeting is scheduled for June 28th from 10am to 3pm. Location TBD somewhere in Boise. We believe there will be a greater number of folks present as we bring the non-motorized group together with motorized and we will find a location suitable for the numbers as we determine a more accurate head count. 

If you plan to attend , Please email Sandra Mitchel at smitchel@alscott.com to RSVP for the June 28th IRC meeting.

Respectfully,
Dan Waugh
360-791-1591

Idaho Horse Council Administrator is also inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Non-Motorized Trails Legislation Update
Time: Apr 24, 2025 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89109943525?pwd=bzKeHF50wbJvdUDvbER0pra3SeUkRi.1

Meeting ID: 891 0994 3525
Passcode: 512561

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Meeting ID: 891 0994 3525
Passcode: 512561

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdOJhm09W0

Idaho Horse Council Proposal

Proposed Non-Motorized Trails Permit..

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IHC statewide trails committee is working on getting a statewide funding program started.  This would be similar to the Park and Ski passes or what the motorized people pay for their stickers.  

Below is the program publicity flyer.  There is a draft proposed for the next state legislative session.  


Popularity of Non-Motorized Recreation in Idaho –

In a survey of 1,000 Idahoans, 67% of people requested more access to hiking and walking trails, 31% requested more mountain biking opportunities, and 18% requested more equestrian opportunities. 1

Poor Trail Conditions

70% of trails on federal land in Idaho do not meet National Quality Standards, as defined by the United States Forest Service. 3

Economic Impact

Outdoor recreation generated $7.8 billion in Idaho in 2022, equivalent to the value of statewide agricultural production. 4

Success Stories –

Both winter and summer motorized trails enthusiasts self-tax through registration programs. Those funds maintain approximately 5,600 miles of trails in the winter (snowmobiles), and 2,500 miles of trails in the summer (off-highway vehicles). 5

Other States

Montana, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Colorado all have dedicated funding sources for non-motorized trail maintenance. These funding sources are key to maintaining safe and accessible non-motorized trail opportunities. 2

A Solution

If all non-motorized trail enthusiasts purchase an annual trail pass with a similar fee structure and similar participation rates to their motorized counterparts, over a million dollars will be generated annually for non-motorized trail maintenance, education programs, and mapping improvements.

1 Hall, McAllister; Pape, Emily; and Fry, Vanessa. (2022). “Idaho Parks and Recreation Survey of Idahoans 2022”. Idaho Policy Institute Reports. https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/ipi_reports/70.

2 Cook, P. S., Courtney, M., & Becker, D. R. (2017, September). Maintenance of Non-Motorized Trails on National Forests in Idaho: Funding Background and Opportunities for State Assistance. https://www.uidaho.edu/-/media/UIdahoResponsive/Files/cnr/research/PAG/Issue/PAG-IB21-trail-maintenance.pdf

3 United States Forest Service, & Meyers, C. L., Trails Management Handbook (2008). United States Forest Service. Retrieved June 23, 2023, from https://www.fs.usda.gov/cgibin/Directives/get_dirs/fsh?2309.18.

4 Kelly Davis. (2022). State of the Outdoor Market. Boulder, Colorado; Outdoor Industry Association. Retrieved June 2023,.

5 Robinson, M. (2023). Miles of Trail Maintained by Motorized Program. personal.