Idaho House lawmakers do ‘hostile’ takeover of E-Verify bill to mandate 287(g) agreements

by Laura Guido, Idaho Capital Sun
Originally Published: April 1, 2026

BOISE, Idaho (Idaho Capital Sun) — Idaho House lawmakers, who said negotiations stalled on one immigration issue, opted to do a late-session “hostile” take-over of another bill in another attempt to mandate all local law enforcement agencies enter formal agreements with federal immigration authorities.

During an evening floor session, Reps. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, brought an amendment that essentially re-wrote an existing bill. The process is known as “radiator capping,” or completely rebuilding the “engine” of a bill except the radiator cap. 

In this case, the engine was Senate Bill 1247, which as originally written would’ve created requirements that state and local governments and large government contractors use the work-authorization program E-Verify to ensure their workers are in the country legally. 

However, Redman and Hawkins’ amendment brought Wednesday evening removed all of SB 1247’s existing language and replaced it with the contents of House Bill 659, which would require all local and county law enforcement to enter what are called 287(g) agreements with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A Senate committee in mid March rejected that bill after hearing testimony from law enforcement who opposed it. 

House members voted to approve the amendments and replace the bill in what became a combative process. The House will later take up the amended bill in a new vote, and it would have to go to the Senate for consideration of concurrence with the amendments. 

Redman and Hawkins said that negotiations on bills to require E-Verify stalled, so they decided to try again on the 287(g) issue. 

“Because we could get nowhere on that, we thought it was best that we take a bill that we know has passed this House, and we know that the people on this floor are in agreement with and send it back over the Senate to do business,” Hawkins said. 

House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, a Boise Democrat, called the process “extremely inappropriate” and noted the law enforcement had deep concerns about House Bill 659. 

“This is just not the way to do business on something of the significance that is of this much deep concern to our law enforcement community and business community at large,” Rubel said. 

Rexburg Republican Rep. Britt Raybould said that the bill sponsors on the original bill were not consulted, making it a “hostile amendment.” 

The voice vote on the amendment was too close to call. House Assistant Majority Leader Doug Pickett, R-Oakley, who presides over the amending procedure, was in doubt. 

House Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Steve Berch, a Boise Democrat, said there wasn’t enough time for members to stand — which is how votes are counted for amendments on the floor.

“I would just correct that right now. Instead of creating a really hostile situation,” Berch said. 

Eventually, the amendments were adopted in a narrow vote. 

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.