Senate Bill 1271, which declares rats a public health nuisance and mandates a statewide eradication plan by November 2026, failed to advance Tuesday.
BOISE, Idaho — A bill aimed at declaring rats a public health nuisance and an emergency in Idaho failed to advance out of the Idaho House, effectively halting the bill.
Senate Bill 1271, nicknamed the “Rodents of Unusual Size Act,” previously passed the Senate Agriculture Committee back in late February with plans for amendment, failed on the House floor Tuesday on a 32–38 vote.
The legislation sought to use GIS mapping to track norway rats and roof rats’ movements across the state and develop a statewide rat eradication plan by November 2026. Supporters argued Idaho’s rat problem has grown too large to ignore, with infestations reported in dishwashers, attics, and air vents.
Opponents to the bill say rat control should be left to local governments.
Some lawmakers raised concerns about the cost of tackling a rat problem during a tight budget year, with Idaho facing a $40 million deficit in fiscal year 2026.
Residents dealing with the rats say delays will only make the situation worse.
“If it takes a year or more for these people to step in and help and for us to get some funding, we are really that much more behind that much closer to New York City,” Jane Rohling previously told KTVB.
With Tuesday’s vote, the bill is effectively dead for this session, though sponsors could reintroduce similar legislation in the future.
