Idaho Governor Signs Law Shielding Death Investigation Photos From Public Release
Idaho Gov. Brad Little has signed into law a measure that prevents photographs taken during death investigations from being released to the public, offering new protections to grieving families across the state, including those in Bonner County and throughout North Idaho.
Little signed Senate Bill 1250 on Thursday, March 27, following unanimous passage in both the Idaho Senate and House of Representatives. The new law amends Idaho’s Public Records Act to exempt photographs and images of deceased individuals taken during coroner death investigations or law enforcement investigations, regardless of whether those investigations remain active or have been closed.
What the New Idaho Law Does
Under the previous framework, Idaho law did not explicitly prevent a coroner from sharing information — including photographs — gathered during a death investigation. That gap was identified two years ago in a watchdog report by the Office of Performance Evaluations, which flagged the absence of clear statutory protections for sensitive materials collected during the investigation of a person’s death.
Senate Bill 1250 closes that gap by adding death investigation photographs and images to the list of records exempt from public disclosure under Idaho’s Public Records Act. The exemption applies to images taken by coroners or law enforcement personnel and covers both active and closed investigations.
The bill does provide that photographs may be released to the next of kin once investigations and proceedings have concluded, preserving family access while restricting broader public distribution.
For families in Bonner County who have experienced the death of a loved one under circumstances requiring a coroner’s involvement — whether through accident, sudden illness, or criminal investigation — the law provides a layer of privacy protection that previously did not exist under Idaho statute.
Families Who Drove the Change
The legislation was brought forward by Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, a Boise Democrat, who framed the issue in straightforward terms when speaking before a House committee earlier this month.
“There’s no one that needs to see the photo or image of somebody who has passed away,” Wintrow told committee members.
The bill drew broad bipartisan support, in part because of the personal stories shared by Idaho families during the legislative process. Among the most prominent advocates was Alivea Goncalves, whose sister Kaylee Goncalves was one of four University of Idaho students murdered in Moscow in November 2022. The Moscow quadruple homicide drew national attention and remained in the public spotlight for an extended period, raising concerns among surviving family members about the potential for sensitive investigative photographs to enter the public domain.
Gov. Little specifically recognized Alivea Goncalves and the Goncalves family in a Facebook post following the bill signing. “This change will help protect grieving families from the additional pain of having sensitive photos released that should remain private,” Little wrote. “I applaud Alivea and the Goncalves family for their incredible advocacy in the face of immense tragedy.”
Allen Hodges also testified in support of the legislation, speaking publicly about the death of his daughter and his concern that nude photographs taken of her during an investigation could potentially be released to the public. Hodges said he had been pushing for the statutory change for more than a year.
“I’m here, not just for myself, but other citizens of Idaho,” Hodges told lawmakers. “You lose a grandma; you lose a grandfather. Why should those images, if they’re taken by a coroner or law enforcement, be public fodder and for other people’s enjoyment? It’s wrong.”
While Hodges expressed support for the legislation, he also indicated the change did not go far enough to address all of his concerns — suggesting additional advocacy efforts may follow at the Idaho Legislature in future sessions. For full statewide coverage of Idaho legislation and how it affects communities from the Panhandle to the Treasure Valley, readers can follow reporting at Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.
What Comes Next
With Senate Bill 1250 now signed into law, Idaho coroners and law enforcement agencies across the state — including the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and local coroner’s office — will be required to treat death investigation photographs as exempt records under the Idaho Public Records Act. The law takes effect upon passage and signature.
Advocates who pushed for the change have indicated that the new statute represents a starting point rather than a final answer, and that further legislative efforts to strengthen protections for families involved in death investigations may be pursued in the coming sessions. Families in Bonner County and across North Idaho who have questions about how the law applies in specific circumstances are encouraged to contact legal counsel or their local law enforcement agency for guidance.