The Idaho Legislature's membership page lists James Ruchti as a member of the Idaho Senate for District 29, serving a 2nd term.[1]
The page also lists prior service as "(Served 2 terms, House 2006-2010; Served 1 term, House 2020-2022)".[1]The page gives James Ruchti's occupation as "Attorney".[1]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
As introduced, sets the fiscal 2027 maintenance budget for the Department of Health and Welfare and State Independent Living Council, with standard cost adjustments, a base reduction of up to 5 percent, and the cost of House Bill 863.
As introduced, makes technical corrections to the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit: eligible students are ages 5 to 18 at any time in the tax year, tutoring must be academic, and advance payments may be claimed only initially.
As introduced, appropriates an additional $2.2 million ongoing for public school student support, adds federal grant spending authority, and reduces discretionary funding for virtual-only schools.
As introduced, sets the fiscal 2027 maintenance budget for the Department of Health and Welfare and State Independent Living Council, with standard cost adjustments, a base reduction of up to 5 percent, and the cost of House Bill 863.
As amended in the Senate, bars schools, child care and health care providers from aiding a minor's social transition without written parental consent, requires parent notice within 72 hours of certain student requests, and allows parent lawsuits and Attorney General penalties.
As introduced, appropriates an additional $493.4 million for fiscal 2027 to the Division of Medicaid, including funding for the claims system procurement, estate recovery, program integrity and Hospital Assessment Fund adjustments.
As introduced, makes technical corrections to the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit: eligible students are ages 5 to 18 at any time in the tax year, tutoring must be academic, and advance payments may be claimed only initially.
As introduced, appropriates an additional $2.2 million ongoing for public school student support, adds federal grant spending authority, and reduces discretionary funding for virtual-only schools.
As amended in the Senate, bars schools, child care and health care providers from aiding a minor's social transition without written parental consent, requires parent notice within 72 hours of certain student requests, and allows parent lawsuits and Attorney General penalties.
As introduced, requires candidates and political committees to keep campaign money in a separate checking account, requires reporting personal loans over $1,000, and limits investing campaign funds to cash-equivalent accounts, not stocks.
As introduced, makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly enter a restroom, changing room, locker room or shower room in a government building or public accommodation designated for the opposite biological sex; a repeat conviction within five years is a felony, with exceptions.
Requires Idaho-incorporated refugee resettlement entities to give the Legislature annual audits; requires resettlement entities to catalog unlawfully present people they serve; requires law enforcement to verify and record arrestees' immigration status and nationality, with biannual reports to the state controller.
As introduced, appropriates an additional $14.2 million for fiscal 2027 to the Department of Fish and Game for fisheries habitat, wolf depredation response and other items, and directs use of funds for wolf trapping.
As introduced, appropriates an additional $390,000 onetime for fiscal 2027 to the Department of Water Resources for aquifer monitoring, stream gaging and adjudication staff.
As introduced, lets a telephone company discontinue local service if the Federal Communications Commission permits it, and requires the Public Utilities Commission to adopt the FCC's discontinuance findings.
As amended, requires conversational AI operators to adopt a suicidal-ideation response protocol and, for minors, show an AI disclosure, block sexually explicit output and avoid unpredictable rewards; the Attorney General may seek $1,000 per violation, up to $500,000 per operator.
As amended in the Senate, requires social media platforms with $1 billion or more in advertising revenue to get verifiable parental consent for accounts of users 16 and under and bars addictive interface features and profile-based ads in those users' feeds.
Mar 20, 2026 · Passed 21–14 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Lets local governments allow apartment buildings up to six stories to be served by a single interior exit stair if they meet fire-safety standards, such as sprinklers throughout, a two-hour fire-rated stairway and elevator shaft, and no more than four units per floor.
As amended, bars cities of more than 10,000 people from banning starter home subdivisions (4+ acres, lots up to 1,500 square feet) and requires them by February 1, 2027 to cap minimum lot size, setbacks and lot width.
Adds to the scope section in Senate Bill 1326, if enacted, a statement that it does not limit lawful entry authorized under Idaho Code sections 7-705, 40-1310, 40-2301 and 54-1230.
As introduced, revises a definition in Idaho transportation code, allows federal funds and grants to be used to improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and amends a provision on violations.
As introduced, appropriates an additional $98.9 million for fiscal 2027 to the Idaho Transportation Department for deferred maintenance, equipment, airfields and construction and right-of-way acquisition.
As amended in the Senate, makes it a misdemeanor, with a fine up to $1,000 or six months in jail, to fly a drone within 400 feet above a state prison's perimeter, and lets officials take reasonable measures against drones used harmfully there.
Voted against most of their party on 1 of 20 party-divided votes on file.
STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS – Adds to existing law to provide for state sovereignty, jurisdictional presumption, and a limitation on federal power.
What it does: As introduced, declares a strong presumption that Idaho has jurisdiction over matters within the state unless the U.S. Constitution clearly and specifically grants authority to the federal government.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–3, Republicans 29–0
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
H 978 · ID SENATE
APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2027.
YesVOTED
Motion: Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote Read in full as required) – Read third time in full –
A yes vote passed H 978, the fiscal 2027 public health services appropriation for the Department of Health and Welfare, after the Senate suspended by two-thirds vote its rules on reading bills on separate days. (AI-written)
As introduced, adds $35.1 million to the Health and Welfare Department's Public Health Services budget for fiscal 2027, including restoring the Immunization Assessment Fund, and moves the Idaho Home Visiting Program to another division.
APPROPRIATIONS – MILITARY DIVISION – Relates to the appropriation to the Military Division for fiscal year 2026.
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote Read in full as required) – Read third time in full –
A yes vote passed H 973, the fiscal 2026 appropriation to the Military Division, after the Senate suspended by two-thirds vote its rules on reading bills on separate days. (AI-written)
As introduced, appropriates $6.5 million in federal funds for fiscal 2026 to the Military Division to replace climate control systems in Idaho Air National Guard buildings at Gowen Field.
APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – DIVISION OF WELFARE – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2027.
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote Read in full as required) – Read third time in full –
A yes vote passed H 972, the fiscal 2027 Division of Welfare appropriation for the Department of Health and Welfare, after the Senate suspended by two-thirds vote its rules on reading bills on separate days. (AI-written)
As introduced, appropriates $351,000 from the General Fund and $163,000 in federal funds for fiscal 2027 to the Division of Welfare for system changes needed to carry out House Bill 730 on SNAP eligibility.
APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – STUDENT SUPPORT DIVISION – Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program’s Division of Student Support for fiscal year 2027.
YesVOTED
Motion: Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote Read in full as required) – Read third time in full –
A yes vote passed S 1447, the fiscal 2027 appropriation for public schools' Division of Student Support, after the Senate suspended by two-thirds vote its rules on reading bills on separate days. (AI-written)
As introduced, appropriates $5 million for fiscal 2027 from the Idaho High Needs Student Fund for school districts and charter schools, and transfers $5 million into that fund from other accounts.
APPROPRIATIONS – OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL – Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
NoVOTED
Motion: Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote Read in full as required) – Read third time in full –
A yes vote passed H 971, the fiscal 2026 and 2027 appropriation to the Office of the Attorney General, after the Senate suspended by two-thirds vote its rules on reading bills on separate days. (AI-written)
As introduced, appropriates an additional $880,000 from the Consumer Protection Fund to the Attorney General's office in each of fiscal 2026 and 2027, and allows the money to be used for any of the Attorney General's duties, not only consumer protection.
APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program for fiscal year 2027.
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: Read third time in full –
Appropriates money for fiscal year 2027 to the Public Schools Educational Support Program across its teacher, student support, facilities, central services and other divisions, and sets conditions on how funds are used, including staff compensation.
APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – RURAL HEALTH – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for rural health care for fiscal year 2027.
YesVOTED
Motion: Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote Read in full as required) – Read third time in full –
Creates the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund for federal grant money and a nine-member committee (eight legislators, one nonvoting governor's appointee) to recommend its use; appropriates $3.7 million for fiscal 2026 and $295.4 million for 2027, adding 12 positions each year.
IDAHO REFUGEE AND ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCOUNTABILITY ACT – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding an audit of the resettlement of refugees and to establish provisions regarding the immigration status and nationality of arrested individuals.
NoVOTED
Motion: Read third time in full as amended –
Requires Idaho-incorporated refugee resettlement entities to give the Legislature annual audits; requires resettlement entities to catalog unlawfully present people they serve; requires law enforcement to verify and record arrestees' immigration status and nationality, with biannual reports to the state controller.
