Idaho families deserve to own or rent a home they can afford. Too many are priced out, stuck in bad rentals, or facing homelessness because supply is too low, costs are too high, and the system has leaks that waste time and money.
This Housing page brings together three connected reforms that fix the problem from every angle:
We accelerate the building of new homes by cutting red tape, speeding up permits, and responsibly using underutilized state land only after local communities vote yes. Public recreational land is off-limits.
We make rentals fairer and more reliable with transparency, enforcement of existing laws, and incentives for responsible landlords while discouraging corporate dominance.
We provide real pathways out of homelessness with shelter expansion, work requirements, treatment access, and local control so people can move toward independence.
All three reforms work as one unified plan. They use savings from my other reforms to fund incentives. They protect recreation public lands and give local communities the final say where needed. They focus on more supply, better quality, and personal responsibility without rent control or new spending.
This is not about government handouts or heavy regulation. It is about enforcing what we already have, stopping the waste, and getting Idaho back to a place where hard work leads to a home of your own.
Read the full details below and see how each part supports the others. Idahoans deserve better. Let's build it together.
1. Idaho Housing Supply Acceleration Reform
The Problem
Idaho is facing a severe housing crisis. Rapid population growth, low inventory, and high construction costs have driven home prices out of reach for working families, young people, and first-time buyers. Large institutional investors, hedge funds, and corporations are buying up single-family homes, often converting them into rentals and reducing supply for families who want to own. At the same time, permitting delays slow new construction, while some underutilized or abused state land parcels sit idle instead of being put to productive use for housing. Public recreation lands must remain fully protected and public forever.
What I'll Do Day One as Governor
Sign an executive order directing state agencies to accelerate housing supply while protecting public lands and keeping homes for Idaho families. Right away:
Direct all state permitting agencies to implement hard maximum timelines and create a single statewide housing permit portal.
Direct the Department of Lands to inventory underutilized, non-recreation state parcels and require a binding local referendum in the affected county before any development, sale, or long-term lease can proceed.
Partner with the State Tax Commission to propose higher property tax rates or licensing requirements on large institutional investors owning ten or more single-family homes for rental or investment purposes, while giving preference and tax credits to builders who sell new homes to Idaho families and owner-occupiers.
Launch pilots in three to five high-need counties to test the new timelines, portal, and local referendum process, with results posted on Transparent Idaho in ninety days.
Use savings from Budget Allocation, State Procurement and Contracts, and Agency Performance Audits reforms to fund targeted builder incentives for projects that prioritize Idaho families.
This uses powers I already have under executive oversight of state agencies and existing land management authority. No new laws needed first. Recreation public lands remain one hundred percent protected and off-limits.
How This Connects to the Other Housing Reforms
This reform increases overall housing supply, which directly supports the Rental Market Fairness Reform by easing pressure on rental prices and providing more inventory for the Pathways Home Reform to move people from shelters into stable housing. Local referendums ensure community control across all three reforms. Savings from this reform help fund incentives in the rental and homelessness reforms.
How This Is Different From Now
Right now, permitting timelines are often guidelines rather than hard limits, there is no single portal, and local input is inconsistent. Large institutional investors face no state-level disincentives, and underutilized state land sits idle or becomes dumping grounds. My way goes further: hard deadlines with accountability, a one-stop portal, mandatory binding local referendum for state land decisions, and targeted restrictions on corporate buyers so homes stay available for Idaho families. It builds on existing processes but adds real local control and family-first incentives while keeping recreation lands fully protected.
What I'll Push the Legislature For
Easy laws to make it permanent:
Codify hard permitting timelines (ninety/one hundred eighty days) with automatic public dashboards and accountability for missed deadlines.
Require a binding local referendum in the affected county for any development, sale, or long-term lease of underutilized, non-recreation state land parcels.
Impose higher property taxes or licensing requirements on entities owning ten or more single-family homes for investment, with clear exemptions for small landlords and build-to-rent projects by Idaho-based developers.
Authorize tax credits and fee waivers for builders who sell new homes to owner-occupiers and Idaho families.
Strengthen the single statewide housing permit portal and inter-agency coordination.
No big new spending. Incentives are funded by savings from other reforms.
How We'll Check It Works
We will keep it honest with:
Real-time public dashboards on Transparent Idaho showing every housing permit status, new homes permitted, referendum results, and investor ownership trends.
Independent audits on timeline compliance, investor restrictions, and land use decisions.
Citizens Task Force to review complaints, track local input on state department processes, and recommend improvements (task forces focus on state agencies, not local land votes).
Yearly report on new housing units built, average home prices, affordability metrics for Idaho families, and investor ownership changes.
Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.
Answers to Common Questions
Won't this hurt the environment or recreation lands?
No. Recreation public lands remain fully protected and off-limits. We only target underutilized, non-recreation parcels, and local referendums ensure community approval before any change.
How do we keep large institutional investors from buying Idaho homes?
Higher property taxes and licensing requirements on entities owning ten or more single-family homes for investment make it much less attractive, while giving clear preference to individual families and Idaho-based builders.
What if a local community votes against using a parcel for housing?
The parcel stays exactly as is. The binding referendum gives locals the final say. No forced development.
How does this make homes more affordable?
More supply through faster permitting and targeted incentives directly increases inventory for families, which lowers prices over time without price controls or subsidies.
Does this cost taxpayers more?
No. All incentives are funded by savings from Budget Allocation, State Procurement and Contracts, and Agency Performance Audits reforms. The portal and timelines use existing staff and tools.
How does this connect to other reforms?
Faster permitting reduces costs in State Procurement and Contracts Reform. Savings from those reforms fund builder incentives here. Audits verify outcomes, and the Citizens Task Force ensures local voices are heard on state department processes.
What about federal funds involved in housing?
We follow federal rules first but add state transparency and family-first preferences within those guidelines.
How will we know if it is working?
Public dashboards and yearly reports on Transparent Idaho will track new homes built, price trends, investor ownership changes, and affordability for Idaho families. Everything is visible to everyone.
Why binding referendum instead of advisory?
To give locals the real final say. Advisory votes can be ignored. Binding referendums ensure community consent before any change to underutilized state land.
How do we protect against corporate dominance in development?
Preference and tax credits go to builders who sell to Idaho families and owner-occupiers. Institutional investors face disincentives, and local referendums give communities veto power over any proposal that feels too corporate.
2. Rental Market Fairness and Accountability Reform
The Problem
Rental prices in Idaho have become outrageous in many areas, especially in the Treasure Valley, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls, and Magic Valley. Many landlords fail to perform basic maintenance, leaving renters with broken appliances, unsafe conditions, and long delays for repairs. Renter complaints are common but hard to track or resolve. It is increasingly difficult to find rentals that are not controlled by large property management companies or institutional owners, which often prioritize profits over people. This corporate concentration reduces competition, drives up prices, and leaves many Idaho families struggling to find decent, affordable housing they can rely on.
What I'll Do Day One as Governor
Sign an executive order to increase transparency and strengthen enforcement of existing landlord-tenant laws. Right away:
Partner with the Attorney General and Department of Finance to create a public Rental Transparency Portal on Transparent Idaho.
Require large property management companies to publicly report basic performance data.
Partner with the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement of existing habitability standards.
Launch pilots in three to five high-need counties.
Use savings from other reforms to offer voluntary tax credits to responsible landlords.
This uses powers I already have under executive oversight of state agencies and existing landlord-tenant statutes. No new laws needed first
How This Connects to the Other Housing Reforms
This reform improves the quality and fairness of existing rentals, which complements the new supply created by the Housing Supply Acceleration Reform and provides stable next-step housing for people exiting shelters through the Pathways Home Reform. Transparency and accountability tools are shared across all three reforms, and local control through referendums applies where state land is involved.
How This Is Different From Now
Right now, renter complaints are scattered, hard to track, and often ignored. There is no central public view of landlord or property management company performance. Large corporate operators face little accountability, and good small landlords are lumped in with bad actors. My way adds real transparency so tenants can make informed choices, partners with the Attorney General to enforce existing laws faster, and uses incentives to reward responsible small landlords while discouraging corporate dominance, all funded by savings from other reforms.
What I'll Push the Legislature For
Easy laws to make it permanent:
Require public reporting and licensing transparency for property management companies managing fifty or more units.
Strengthen the Rental Transparency Portal with mandatory basic performance data.
Authorize voluntary tax credits (funded by existing savings) for landlords who meet maintenance standards and rent to Idaho families.
Clarify and streamline enforcement of existing habitability laws so complaints are resolved faster.
No big new spending. Everything is funded by savings from waste-cutting reforms.
How We'll Check It Works
We will keep it honest with:
Public Rental Transparency Portal on Transparent Idaho showing complaints, resolution rates, and performance data.
Regular audits of portal data and enforcement actions.
Citizens Task Force to review trends, take renter and landlord input, and recommend improvements.
Yearly report on rental price trends, maintenance complaint resolution, and availability of non-corporate rentals.
Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.
Answers to Common Questions
Won't this hurt small landlords?
No. The portal and reporting requirements apply only to large property management companies (fifty or more units). Small landlords and mom-and-pop owners face no new burdens and can benefit from the tax credits for good maintenance.
Is this rent control?
No. There are no price controls or rent caps. This is about transparency and enforcement of existing laws so the market can work better.
How does this help with outrageous rental prices?
More transparency lets renters avoid bad actors and choose better options. Combined with the Housing Supply Acceleration Reform (more homes built), increased supply naturally brings prices down over time.
What if a landlord has legitimate reasons for delays?
The portal shows context and resolution rates. Good landlords will stand out, and bad ones will face market pressure and faster enforcement of existing laws.
How does this connect to the Housing Supply Acceleration Reform?
More new homes built means more rental supply available, which helps lower prices and gives renters better choices, including more options outside corporate property management companies.
Does this cost taxpayers more?
No. The portal uses existing Transparent Idaho tools. Tax credits are funded by savings from Budget, Procurement, and Audits reforms.
How do we protect good landlords from unfair complaints?
The portal requires verification of complaints before public posting, and landlords can respond publicly. The focus is on patterns and resolution rates, not isolated issues.
What about large institutional investors in rentals?
Higher reporting requirements and licensing transparency make corporate-scale operations more visible and accountable, while giving preference to local, small-scale landlords through the tax credits.
How will renters know if a landlord is reliable?
The portal lets them see maintenance history, complaint resolution rates, and performance data before signing a lease.
What if a large company ignores the reporting requirement?
Existing enforcement tools (fines, license revocation) apply. Working with the Attorney General to prioritize compliance and public exposure will add market pressure.
3. Idaho Pathways Home Reform
The Problem
Homelessness in Idaho has risen sharply in recent years, especially in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and other growing communities. Many individuals and families are on the streets or in unsafe encampments due to high housing costs, mental health and substance abuse challenges, job loss, or aging out of foster care. Current shelters are often full, fragmented, or focused only on emergency beds without clear pathways to stable housing and work. Too many resources go to administration instead of results, and there is little accountability for outcomes. Public frustration is growing over safety, sanitation, and visible decline in communities. We must address this humanely but realistically, with compassion that includes personal responsibility, local control, and proven pathways to independence.
What I'll Do Day One as Governor
Sign an executive order to create clear, accountable pathways out of homelessness using existing resources and savings from other reforms. Right away:
Partner with the Department of Health and Welfare, Attorney General, and local governments to expand shelter beds and transitional housing by inventorying underutilized, non-recreation state land parcels and requiring a binding local referendum in the affected county before any development or lease proceeds.
Require able-bodied adults in state-funded shelters or transitional housing to participate in work programs, job training, or community service as a condition of continued support (building on existing welfare work requirements).
Direct agencies to prioritize existing mental health and substance abuse treatment funds for homeless individuals, with faster access to beds and services.
Launch pilots in three to five high-need counties to test expanded shelters, work requirements, and local referendum process, with results posted on Transparent Idaho in ninety days.
Use savings from Budget Allocation, State Procurement and Contracts, Agency Performance Audits, and Grant and Nonprofit Funding reforms to fund matching grants for local nonprofits and faith-based groups that deliver measurable results (housing placement rates, employment outcomes).
This uses powers I already have under executive oversight of state agencies and existing land management and welfare statutes. No new laws needed first. Recreation public lands remain one hundred percent protected and off-limits.
How This Connects to the Other Housing Reforms
This reform provides immediate shelter and pathways to permanent housing, using the increased supply from the Housing Supply Acceleration Reform and the improved rental options from the Rental Market Fairness Reform. Binding local referendums and transparency tools are shared across all three reforms, creating a complete pipeline from crisis response to long-term stability.
How This Is Different From Now
Right now, homelessness services are often reactive, fragmented, and focused on emergency shelter without strong accountability or pathways to independence. Local communities have limited say in state land decisions, and resources are spread thin without clear results. My way shifts to results-driven programs: binding local referendums give communities final say on land use, work requirements promote dignity and self-sufficiency, and savings from other reforms fund proven local providers. It emphasizes personal responsibility and local control while protecting public lands and delivering measurable progress.
What I'll Push the Legislature For
Easy laws to make it permanent:
Codify binding local referendums for any development or long-term lease of underutilized, non-recreation state land parcels for housing or shelter purposes.
Require work participation or job training for able-bodied adults in state-funded homelessness programs (building on existing welfare rules).
Authorize matching grants (funded by existing savings) for local nonprofits and faith-based organizations that achieve high housing placement and employment outcomes.
Strengthen coordination between state agencies and local governments for mental health and substance abuse treatment services.
No big new spending. Everything is funded by savings from waste-cutting reforms.
How We'll Check It Works
We will keep it honest with:
Public dashboard on Transparent Idaho showing shelter beds added, housing placements, employment outcomes, and local referendum results.
Independent audits of program spending, outcomes, and compliance with work requirements.
Citizens Task Force to review trends, gather input from service providers, renters, and communities, and recommend improvements.
Yearly report on reductions in street homelessness, successful housing placements, employment rates, and cost per person served.
Everything open for anyone to look at and ask about.
Answers to Common Questions
Won't this be too harsh on people who are struggling?
No. The focus is on dignity through work and treatment, not punishment. Able-bodied adults are asked to participate in job training or community service, while vulnerable groups (disabled, elderly, families with children) receive priority support without work requirements.
How do we protect public lands and recreation areas?
Recreation public lands remain fully protected and off-limits. We only consider truly underutilized, non-recreation parcels, and local referendums give communities the final say.
What if a local community votes against a project?
The parcel stays as is. The binding referendum ensures local control and prevents unwanted development.
Does this cost taxpayers more?
No. All expansion and grants are funded by savings from Budget Allocation, Procurement and Contracts, Audits, and Grant reforms. No new taxes or spending.
How does this connect to the Housing Supply Acceleration Reform?
Faster permitting and local land decisions from the housing reform will help create more transitional and permanent housing options, supporting pathways out of homelessness.
How does this connect to the Rental Market Fairness Reform?
Better rental transparency and accountability will make more stable rental housing available, giving people leaving shelters viable next steps.
What about mental health and substance abuse?
We prioritize existing treatment funds and beds for homeless individuals, with faster access and coordination between agencies and local providers.
How will we know if it is working?
Public dashboards and yearly reports on Transparent Idaho will track shelter usage, housing placements, employment outcomes, and reductions in visible homelessness. Everything is visible to everyone.
What about large institutional or corporate involvement in homelessness services?
Preference and grants go to local nonprofits, faith-based groups, and Idaho-based organizations. Large out-of-state or corporate entities are excluded from state incentives.
How do we avoid creating dependency?
Work requirements and clear outcome tracking for shelters and transitional housing encourage independence and self-sufficiency while providing real support.