By Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon
You know, there might be nothing more important than private property. Those of us who have chosen to build our lives far from the cities understand that better than most. I live on a mountain in Custer County, on one of the few plots of land that isn’t owned by the state or federal government. Living in this rugged country gives you a different perspective on independence. We don’t rely on government to solve all our problems—in fact, we really just want to be left alone.
That’s the hard part, though. Government agents are everywhere, looking for even the smallest infraction. They cross onto private property without a warrant, set up secret cameras in open fields, and treat our mines, ranches, and timber operations like their own backyard.
I say enough is enough.
The Idaho GOP passed Resolution 2025-4 last year for this very reason: to extend our Fourth Amendment protections to all private property beyond the curtilage. Senate Bill 1326 is the fulfillment of that resolution. It declares, loud and clear, that no government agent—local, state, or federal—can set foot on private land—your property—without a valid warrant.
Knock on the front door like a good neighbor? Fine. Sneak past the gate, plant surveillance gear, or conduct a fishing expedition? Not in Idaho anymore.
This is not a novel idea. Our Founding Fathers firmly believed that private property rights were paramount. Jefferson and Madison, inspired by political philosophers such as John Locke, saw property rights as a bulwark against tyranny. Property isn’t just dirt, rocks, or timber—it’s the foundation of liberty. The civilization we take for granted today was built by miners, ranchers, and pioneers who defended their claims with blood, sweat, and an indefatigable will.
This isn’t just a theoretical exercise. Ask any rancher, logger, or miner in Idaho, and they’ll have stories of government agents jumping fences, setting up cameras, and getting into their business without a warrant or probable cause.
SB 1326 draws a necessary line in the sand. It requires agents to obtain a warrant before entering private property and to notify our elected sheriffs before executing those warrants. It protects everything that matters: water rights, weed control, civil process, and true emergencies. It holds those agents accountable for violating the law and our private property rights with hefty fines.
Property rights are paramount. They are not privileges granted by government, whether in Boise or Washington, D.C.—they are God-given and inalienable. If we don’t protect them here in the West, who will?
SB 1326 has been a long time coming. It’s time we stand together and say with one voice: No more warrantless intrusion. We are Idaho. We defend what’s ours.
About Dorothy Moon
Dorothy Moon was elected to serve as the chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party in July of 2022, and reelected in 2024. Moon served three terms in the Idaho Legislature as State Representative for District 8. Moon’s career in public service has focused on the advancement of individual liberties and reducing the size and scope of government.
