Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 205 amends Idaho Code Section 49-654 to allow a temporary increase in speed—up to 15 miles per hour above the posted limit—when a driver is overtaking slower traffic in specific passing scenarios. This provision only applies when:

• The posted speed limit is 55 mph or greater,
• The passing occurs either on a two-lane highway (one lane each direction) or in a designated passing lane,
• The vehicle overtaking is a passenger car, motorcycle, or pickup truck not towing a trailer,
• The pass is conducted on the left (not the right), and
• The road is not located in an incorporated city or construction zone.

Once the pass is completed, the driver must return to the regular lane and reduce speed back to the posted limit “as soon as practicable.” The bill also clarifies that this exception is not available for commercial trucks or urban traffic situations.

Reason for Rating:

HB 205 promotes safe and efficient driving while respecting individual responsibility, aligning with Idaho Republican Party values such as personal liberty, minimal regulation, and common-sense reform. It legalizes what many Idahoans already do in practice—briefly accelerating to pass safely on rural highways—without enabling reckless speeding. This improves traffic flow, reduces road rage, and keeps enforcement focused on actual safety violations rather than arbitrary technical infractions. For those reasons, this bill earns a +1 rating.