Idaho Legislature takes up housing reforms to allow more starter homes and duplexes

Four bills aim to cut regulations and open more land for affordable housing options across the state

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Idaho Senate is considering a suite of four bills that would remove restrictions on duplexes, accessory dwelling units, starter-home subdivisions, and church-led housing developments in an effort to increase the supply of affordable housing and make it easier for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home. The bills, introduced by Republican Senator Ben Toews, seek to address the state's skyrocketing home prices by cutting regulations and allowing for more density and smaller, less expensive housing options.

Why it matters

Idaho has seen home prices more than double in the past 10 years, putting homeownership out of reach for many first-time and low-income buyers. These bills aim to tackle the state's affordable housing crisis by removing barriers to building smaller, more affordable homes and increasing the overall housing supply.

The details

The four bills would: 1) Strike bans on duplexes and 'twin homes' in single-family zones, 2) Allow accessory dwelling units 'by right' without special approval, 3) Create a path for religious organizations to develop housing on their own land, and 4) Remove restrictions on 'starter-home subdivisions' with smaller lot sizes and higher densities. The goal is to enable more small, lower-cost homes to be built across Idaho.

  • The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee advanced the four bills on Tuesday, February 13, 2026.
  • The bills now move forward for formal hearings later in the 2026 legislative session.

The players

Ben Toews

A Republican state senator from Coeur d'Alene who introduced the four housing reform bills.

Jordan Redman

A Republican state representative from Coeur d'Alene who is backing the housing bills on the House side.

Ali Rabe

A Democratic state senator from Boise who co-created the Interim Committee on Land Use and Housing that helped develop the ideas behind the bills.

Gem State Housing Alliance

A newly formed nonprofit organization that has advocated for reducing regulations and simplifying the building process to increase affordable housing options in Idaho.

Post Falls

A city in North Idaho that has already taken steps to cut housing regulations on its own, according to Senator Toews.

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What they’re saying

“Personally, my primary focus is to make it possible for the next generation to own a house. Homeownership is the primary way that people build wealth in our society, and statistics show that the vast majority of people want to buy a house.”

— Ben Toews, Republican State Senator (Idaho Statesman)

“One major issue is that many of our zoning codes across the state have not been updated since the 1970s, especially residential zones. One of the big things we're hoping to continue to push is smaller homes of different types and sizes, and allowing different types of homes to be built in single-family zones, which are very restricted.”

— Ali Rabe, Executive Director, Gem State Housing Alliance (Idaho Statesman)

What’s next

The four housing reform bills will now go through formal hearings in the Idaho Senate, with the goal of passing the legislation later in the 2026 session.

The takeaway

These bills represent a market-based approach to addressing Idaho's affordable housing crisis, focusing on reducing regulatory barriers to allow for more small, lower-cost homes to be built across the state. If passed, the reforms could open up new opportunities for first-time and low-income buyers to achieve homeownership, a key driver of wealth-building in communities.