Bill description: HB 478 changes specified hour requirements for pre-licensure and continuing education courses for real estate salespeople and brokers. 

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Does it give government any new, additional, or expanded power to prohibit, restrict, or regulate activities in the free market? Conversely, does it eliminate or reduce government intervention in the market? 

Under Idaho law, anyone who applies for a license to work as a real estate salesperson or broker must complete a certain number of pre-licensure courses to qualify for the license. Also, anyone who receives one of these licenses must then complete a certain number of continuing education requirements to get that license renewed.

For both types of courses — pre-licensure and continuing education — the course programs must first be approved by the Idaho Real Estate Commission. Current Idaho Code specifies that the commission can only approve pre-licensure courses that contain at least 20 classroom hours; continuing education courses must contain at least two classrooms hours. This bill would completely strip the hour requirement for pre-licensure courses and bring the time requirement for continuing education courses down to just one classroom hour. This change allows a greater number of courses offered in the free market to be approved by the commission.

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