State Capitol Roundup

by Sophie Spanbauer

Idaho Public Radio State Capitol Bureau

U of I McClure Center

BOISE- It is a historic week for Idaho public K-12 schools, as House Bill 521 passed through the Senate in a vote of 23 to 11, with one senator marked absent. 

According to House Bill 521, “This legislation provides the largest state investment in school facilities through three main avenues. First, it dedicates $125 million in ongoing sales tax revenue to the new School Modernization Facilities Fund for bonding, while providing the legislature with expanded options to cover annual service on the bonds in the event of economic downturns. Second, this legislation increases the funding to the School District Facility Fund in two ways. It increases the sales tax revenue directed to the fund from 2.25% to 3.25% which is projected to be $25 million in FY 2025, and redirects existing lottery dividends to the fund, which is projected to be approximately $50 million in FY 2025. This fund will help school districts with paying down school bonds, levies, and plant facility levies, with any remaining funds being used at the district level for additional school facility projects. Third, this legislation reduces income taxes from 5.8% to 5.695%, allowing Idahoans to have more money to better support local bonds and levies related to school facilities.”

Following the passage of House Bill 521 on Thursday, Mar. 21, Gov. Brad Little issued a news release saying, “Together, we’ve improved teacher pay, boosted literacy, and expanded resources to support learning inside and outside the classroom. House Bill 521 continues our historic record by securing the largest-ever investment in school facilities.” 

Co-sponsor of the legislation Sen. Doug Ricks, R-Rexburg, said during the debate,“It’s not going to do all of it, but it’ll take a lot of the pressure off our local taxpayers.”

The legislation now waits on the Governor’s desk for final consideration. 

(PHOTO: Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, checks the rulebook during an announcement on the House floor. Mar. 22, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

Another lively debate this week centered around the topic of electioneering near polling places. According to Senate Bill 1244, “No person may, within a polling place, within any building in which an election is being held, or within 250 feet of the primary entrance and exit used by voters at a polling place or other voting location.” 

Notably, Senate Bill 1244 later states, “The first two violations of this section by a person shall be deemed an infraction punishable by a fine in the amount of $300 for each such violation. Any person who violates this section three or more times is guilty of a misdemeanor.” 

Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, argued in favor of the bill saying, “It’s annoying to be harassed at the polling places. This is a technique that has been used for decades by various parties or various interest groups and it’swrong. The people need to be able to go into the polling place. They need to be un-harassed. They need to be able to go in there and make their decision and come out un-harassed.” 

Rep. Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur d’Alene, debated against Senate Bill 1244 saying, “I can’t stress strongly enough how important it is for people to be able to voice their opinions about candidates and issues. And to do that while people are on the way to vote is okay as long as they don’t interfere with their actual voting, which is not happening.”

 The debate ended in a vote of 57 to 12, with one representative marked absent. Senate Bill 1244’s next stop is at the desk of Gov. Little for his consideration. 

Another piece of proposed legislation that was the focus of a lengthy debate on Tuesday, Mar. 19, was Senate Bill 1416. According to its statement of purpose, Senate Bill 1416, “Amends existing law to transfer the Emergency Medical Services Bureau to within the Office of Emergency Management, to designate EMS as an essential government service, and to create the Emergency Medical Services Sustainability Fund.”

 Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins, debated against the bill saying, “Instead of taking donations from the Federal Government, we should be taxing their land and receiving income from that land so we can provide EMS services to the people that recreate in our state.” Sen. Carlson later said, “Our EMS personnel are phenomenal. The volunteers in our state are doing a phenomenal job, but I do not believe this is a solution and I would like us to figure out a different one. This grows government.” 

Former firefighter, paramedic, and Captain of the Wood River Fire and Rescue, Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, debated in support of Senate Bill 1416. “We’re not growing our government; we’re merely changing one house to another house. It’s allowing us an opportunity to continue to be the proud Idahoans that we have (been) and to take care of each other the way we always stand in this room and say that we do. It allows us to take care of the people who come to this beautiful state. That’s all we’re doing here. We’re not trying to grow government; we’re not trying to do anything nefarious. We’rejust trying to make this program essential because the men and women who work in this are essential.”

Senate Bill 1416 passed the Senate in a 26 to 9 vote. The proposed legislation now waits for a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee. 

Posted March 24, 2024

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State Capitol Roundup

by Sophie Spanbauer

Idaho Public Radio State Capitol Bureau

U of I McClure Center

BOISE- Legislation from the Idaho Senate and the House of Representatives is moving back and forth this week, as March 4th marked the target date for all legislation between the Chambers.

House Concurrent Resolution 26 would authorize the Speaker of the House Mike Moyle (R-Star) and President Pro Tempore Chuck Winder (R-Boise) to, “act as agents of the Legislature in a potential legal action,” concerning the University of Idaho’s proposed affiliation with the University of Phoenix. On March 5th, HCR 26 was debated on the House floor.

Co-sponsor of the legislation, Rep. John Gannon (D-Boise) said during the debate, “if there was the process that should have happened in the first place and should be fully disclosed to everybody- fully put on the table- if there was that then hey, I think we made the progress we need to make. But that ain’t happening.”

(Rep. John Gannon, March 5, 2024)

Rep. Lori McCann (R-Lewiston) debated against the proposed legislation saying, “when university presidents go to JFAC and ask for funding, what have they been told over the last several years but to think outside the box? They are not going to get all the funding that they’re asking. The University of Idaho thinks outside the box and now you want to cut their legs off because they followed the process that the law provides. And that, in my opinion folks, is an opportunity for this Legislature and the State of Idaho to be sued by the University of Idaho.”

(Rep. Lori McCann, March 5, 2024)

After the debate was closed the House of Representatives voted 49 to 21 to pass HCR 26 and send it to the Senate.

House Bill 684, sponsored by Rep. Dori Healey (R-Boise) was also debated on the House floor that day. House Bill 684, “adds to existing law to allow for telehealth behavioral health services on public school premises.”

Rep. Jerald Raymond (R-Menan) debated in favor of the bill. “Having mental health issues is as real as having a broken leg. We used to try and hide, and we used to try and cover. We used to try and not talk about these very, very delicate, sensitive issues. But they’re very, very real. And there are kids in our school systems that need that help, and if we can get them that help, that is what we should do.”

Rep. Heather Scott (R-Blanchard) debated against the bill saying, “I’m just concerned that our schools are not doing their primary responsibility, which is reading, writing, and arithmetic. We’re getting into all different venues that our schools are basically becoming the nanny state to take care of every little issue.”

After legislators finished their debate, House Bill 684 was sent to the Senate in another vote of 49 to 21.

House Bill 406 was signed into law by Gov. Brad Little on Feb. 26; the bill adds fentanyl to the category of drugs that carry a mandatory minimum sentence as well as a life sentence and a $25,000 fine for those found guilty of drug-induced homicide.

On Monday, the House of Representatives held a debate for House Bill 617. According to the Bill sponsor, Rep. John Vander Woude (R- Nampa), the Bill repeals the Syringe and Needle Exchange Act. “The program, I don’t believe, has functioned by the guidelines that was originally set out for reporting, for responding.” Rep. Vander Woude later stated, “I don’t think we get the proper oversight by setting up non-profits. I think as a State we have to start looking at how we handle things and have proper oversight of the money that’s being spent and how it’s being used and get the proper reports.”

Rep. Nate Roberts (D-Pocatello) debated against House Bill 617. “Participants in this program are five times more likely to engage in treatment by their own choice- not imprisoned, not put on the State Department of Corrections. And they’re three times more likely to achieve sobriety. So, to me, this is a moral issue. We’re allowing these individuals the opportunity to achieve repentance, to change their ways, to make themselves better. And we’re also providing a way for us to protect our communities- those that are involved in intravenous drug use or drug use at all. So, this program, while it may not be operating the way that we want it to, to repeal it and then try to fix it will take us more than a year. And during that time frame, we’re risking an opportunity for an outbreak like this that happened in Scott County, Indiana.”

When the debate was closed, lawmakers voted to send House Bill 617 to the Senate in a 53 to 13 vote, with four lawmakers being marked as absent.

The widely talked about House Bill 522, which “expands the definition of cannibalism to include providing flesh or blood to another human being without their knowledge or consent,” was debated Thursday morning on the House floor. Bill sponsor Rep. Heather Scott opened the debate, which ended in a vote to send the legislation to the Senate for further consideration.

Senate Bill 1328, the bill to allow homeless shelters to serve runaway youths, passed the Senate unanimously on March 6. It goes to the House of Representatives.

Posted March 9, 2024

(Photos by Sophie Spanbauer)

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State Capitol Roundup

by Sophie Spanbauer

Idaho Public Radio State Capitol Bureau

U of I McClure Center

BOISE- It was a busy week in the Idaho Legislature for the President of the University of Idaho, C. Scott Green.

(Photo: University of Idaho President Scott Green testifies on HCR 26 on March 1, 2024)

President Green’s visit to the Statehouse started in the Senate and House of Representatives Education Committees on Feb. 27th, where he updated the committees on how the University of Idaho has worked over the last year to meet the needs of Idaho citizens and advance toward their goals relating to higher education.

On Wednesday, President Green stood for questions about the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for the University of Idaho that was before the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee (JFAC).

President Green answered questions ranging from the university’s tripled student enrollment in cybersecurity programs to the university’s proposed affiliation with the University of Phoenix.

President Green attended hearings at the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday and Friday on House Concurrent Resolution 26.

According to its Statement of Purpose, HCR 26, “declares that the State Board of Education has acted beyond the scope of its legal authority in attempting to affiliate the University of Idaho with the University of Phoenix. The resolution further declares that the Board has infringed on the Legislature’s power in violation of the Idaho Constitution.”

HCR 26, “calls for the proposed affiliation to be considered by the Legislature; 2) requests that the Board reconsider its vote authorizing the creation of a corporation; 3) requests that the Board, the University of Idaho, and the University of Phoenix cooperate fully with the Legislature while the Legislature considers the proposed affiliation; and 4) authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to act as agents of the Legislature in taking certain actions, including potential legal action.”

On Friday the House State Affairs committee voted to send HCR 26 to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation.

In addition to HCR 26, lawmakers are considering many other bills.

One of those bills includes House Bill 464 which, “adds to existing law to authorize the Governor to develop and execute an interstate compact for border security, to provide that congressional approval shall not be required, and to require certain provisions be included in an interstate compact.”

(Photo: Rep. Tony Wisniewski (R-Post Falls), opening debate on HB 464, Feb. 26, 2024)

After the debate over House Bill 464 concluded on the House floor, lawmakers voted to send the proposed legislation to the Senate in a 47 to 20 vote, with two legislators marked absent.

Adoption is a topic that has been receiving quite a bit of legislative attention as well, with three Senate Bills concerning adoption being brought forth during the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee hearing on Feb. 28th. Sen. Julie VanOrden (R-Pingree) sponsored all three pieces of

proposed legislation, two of which were sent to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1309, which, “amends existing law to revise provisions regarding allowable expenses for a birth mother,” was sent to the fourteenth order for possible amendments.

On Feb. 26th, the House debated HCR 25, legislation that, “encourages the Idaho State Department of Education to review and consider the adoption of age-appropriate Holocaust education in school districts and public charter schools.” HCR 25 has been met with overwhelming support from both Republican and Democrat Representatives, including members of the House Education Committee unanimously adding their names to the list of co-sponsors during a committee hearing on Feb. 21st. Lawmakers on the House floor voted unanimously to send the proposed legislation to the Senate.

(Photos by Sophie Spanbauer)

Posted March 3, 2024

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State Capitol Roundup

by Sophie Spanbauer

Idaho Public Radio State Capitol Bureau

U of I McClure Center

BOISE- The week seven checkpoint has arrived for the 2024 Idaho Legislative Session, which means more bills are entering the political battlefield hoping to become law.

One of those bills is House Bill 521, which invests in public K-12 school facilities throughout the state. The bill was presented to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Tuesday morning by two co-sponsors, Speaker of the House Mike Moyle, (R-Star), and House Majority Leader Jason Monks, (R-Meridian).

(House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, presents HB 521, Feb. 20, 2024)

Majority Leader Monks explained, “What we do in this bill is essentially three things. One of them is providing an additional $75 million to the funding formula on (House Bill) 292, that went in to help reduce property taxes, went to all districts based on average daily attendance.” Majority Leader Monks later explained that, “we have $125 million that we will take… and the state will bond for it and then distribute that out to the districts, and they will have some options on how they take that- whether it’s a lump sum or if they want it spread out over a ten-year period of time.”

The House Majority Leader explained that the third aspect of this bill to take note of is a reduction in the flat income tax rate from 5.8% to 5.695%.

After public testimony and debate in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, House Bill 521 was sent to the House Floor with a do-pass recommendation.

***

The debate over “obscene materials” in public libraries came to a head this week, as Senate Bill 1289 was debated on the Senate Floor Thursday.

The proposed legislation was born out of a collaborative effort between Sen. Geoff Schroeder, (R-Mountain Home), and Rep. Jaron Crane, (R-Nampa). The Bill aims to, “establish standards for library materials and to establish procedures for the review and removal of materials, procedures for appeals, and penalties for violations.”

(Sen. Geoff Schroeder, R-Mountain Home, presented SB 1289, Feb. 22, 2024)

Rep. Crane presented similar legislation in week two of the session, House Bill 384, which was later held in the House State Affairs Committee. The sponsor on the Senate floor, Sen. Schroeder, indicated during debate on the Senate Floor that Senate Bill 1289 includes House Bill 384 so that the language of the held House bill would remain intact.

After a lengthy debate from both Republicans and Democrats, Senate Bill 1289 failed to pass in a nail-biting vote of 18 to 17.

(Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, debated against SB 1289, Feb. 22, 2024)

In other news concerning the Senate, the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1237, which according to the Bill Sponsor, Sen. Ali Rabe, (D-Boise), “is merely tailored to shield from public viewing eviction records that are dismissed.” She later explained that this legislation would provide landlords with a tool to “incentivize tenants to pay the rent that they owe in court.” In her concluding testimony, Sen. Rabe said, “This is going to encourage people to actually go to court, (and) potentially pay what they owe, because if the case is dismissed then that will be shielded from challenges they may face from getting new jobs in the future.”

There were four public testimonies given that were all in support of the bill at the Wednesday hearing, including the President of the Southwest Idaho Chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers, Spencer Henderson. Henderson explained, “When I’m asked what the hardest thing I do is, my immediate without hesitation answer is evictions.” He later said, “what this bill does is it gives property managers the flexibility to work with tenants on sealing these eviction court

filings in situations that call for it, versus having a situation where there is no way for proper follow-up and documentation even if the filing is dismissed and the tenant does everything they need to to move on and move out from the rental to be able to have that taken off their record.”

After hearing a few more testimonies and a brief discussion, the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1237 to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation.

(Photos by Sophie Spanbauer)

Posted February 25, 2024

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State Capitol Roundup

by Sophie Spanbauer

Idaho Public Radio State Capitol Bureau

U of I McClure Center

BOISE- This week marked the potential halfway point for the State of Idaho’s 2024 Legislative session.

Following the vote to remove Rep. Megan Blanksma, (R-Hammett), from her leadership position; the House Republican Caucus elected Rep. Jason Monks, (R-Meridian), as the new Majority Leader in the House of Representatives.

The Legislature experienced no shortage of activity this week, with debates on House Bill 399 kicking off the week in the House chambers on Monday morning. According to the bill sponsor, Rep. Blanksma, this legislation, “gives the Board of Medicine the authority and power to require production of any necessary information from Health and Welfare and provide an annual report to the Legislature by January 31^st of each year on maternal mortality data.” Rep. Blanksma explained, “The data has been continued to be collected over the past year. It’s available, it just needs to be reviewed and we need the report.”

Rep. Tony Wisniewski, (R-Post Falls), was the first to debate against the bill referencing data gathered from 2021, “if we look at the pregnancy related mortality and include in that the maternal mortality, we have a grand total of fourteen deaths. So, if we’re going to spend this kind of money and effort on maternal mortality we really ought to in the sake of fairness and proportionality consider spending a lot more money on heart disease, cancer, accidents, Alzheimer’s disease and so forth.”

After the debate was closed and the votes were tallied, House Bill 399 was passed to the Senate in a 52 to 17 vote, with one legislator marked absent.

***

House Bill 406 has continued along its path in the legislature as it hit the third reading calendar on Thursday morning in the Senate Chambers following its passage through the House on January 29th. Co-sponsored by Sen. Todd Lakey, (R-Nampa), the proposed legislation, “adds to existing law to provide for the crimes of trafficking in fentanyl and drug-induced homicide.”

Sen. Phil Hart, (R-Kellogg), debated against the bill. “I think what this bill does is it scoops up people who are not trafficking and calls them traffickers.” He later stated, “The judge ought to have discretion for those who maybe would more benefit from a rehabilitation program that I think the judge ought to have that option. And so, we’re taking away some of the checks and balances that I think need to protect Idahoans.” In his concluding statements, the Senator from northern Idaho explained, “I believe if we pass this bill, we’re going to put so many more people in prison we’re going to be here two or three years from now funding a new prison for Idaho, because I think we’re going to increase our prison population by that much.”

(Sen. Phil Hart, (R-Kellogg), debates against House Bill 406 on the Senate floor. Jan. 15, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

Sen. Chris Trakel, (R-Caldwell), debated in favor of the bill. “I’m sorry if you are an addict and you are connected, you’re still breaking the law. It’s still against the law. It needs to be off the street and removed. If we remove the demand for it by having harsh punishment its simple economics- they’re not going to come here to sell.”

After an extensive debate from across the Senate floor, House Bill 406 was approved 28 to 7. The bill will be sent to the Gov. Little’s office for his consideration.

***

Fentanyl continues to be a hot topic in the Statehouse, with House Bill 411, a bill to legalize the use and possession of fentanyl detection slips, having its first hearing in the House Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday morning.

(House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, (D-Boise), presents House Bill 411 to the House Health and Welfare Committee. Jan 15, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

Co-sponsor of the proposed legislation, House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, (D-Boise), explained, “This will just be very helpful for people to be able to cheaply and easily make sure they’re not being inadvertently poisoned by fentanyl.” There was no testimony made in opposition, leading to a unanimous vote from the Committee to send House Bill 411 to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation.

***

On Thursday, the House State Affairs Committee introduced House Concurrent Resolution 26, which says the legislature is going to look at the proposed affiliation between the University of Idaho and the University of Phoenix. A public hearing would be the next step in the process.  

Posted February 18, 2024

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State Capitol Roundup

by Sophie Spanbauer

Idaho Public Radio State Capitol Bureau

U of I McClure Center

BOISE- House Bill 457, the maintenance budget for the Judicial Branch for the fiscal year 2025, was before the Idaho House of Representatives on Feb. 7th. It was the first of ten maintenance budgets passed by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) to come before the House.

The budgeting process is new this year, which according to the floor sponsor and co-chair of JFAC, Rep. Wendy Horman, (R-Idaho Falls), is to increase transparency and accountability for growth in spending and government. Representatives debated the bill on the House floor, including three members of JFAC who spoke in opposition to the bill.

(Rep. Wendy Horman, (R-Idaho Falls), presents House Bill 457 to the House of Representatives on Feb. 7th, 2024.)

One of those legislators was Rep. Britt Raybould, (R-Rexburg). “This omnibus approach removes that transparency and that clarity about what’s going into our budget process.” Rep. Raybould continued, “I would argue that even as we attempt to manage the growth of our state budget, we have an obligation to hold on to that one-agency one-budget approach. There is nothing that says that we can’t accomplish that objective and still address the concerns about adding new programs and services to our budgeting process.”

(Rep. Britt Raybould, (R-Rexburg), debates against House Bill 457 on Feb. 7th, 2024.)

Rep. Josh Tanner, (R-Eagle), was the only Representative of JFAC besides Rep. Horman, to speak in support of the proposed budget. “With some of the agencies, they might demand that some of these replacement items are 100% necessary. Some of them may not. It is not up to them to make that decision. It is up to JFAC and this body to make that decision as what we deem necessary, and that process is not necessarily changing. It just is giving a lot more clarity to that process.” When the debate closed, lawmakers voted to send House Bill 457 to the Senate in a narrow thirty-eight to thirty-one vote, with one legislator marked absent. After the vote concluded, Rep. Joe Palmer, (R-Meridian), asked for the House to be put at ease so the Republican Majority could immediately caucus. Speaker of the House Mike Moyle, (R-Star), obliged and put the House at ease for over an hour.

***

On Feb. 8th, the House of Representatives held a vote to retain four members of leadership in the House. The House floor voted unanimously to retain Rep. Moyle as Speaker of the House. Following this decision, the Republican Majority Caucus conducted a vote to retain the three remaining members of leadership. The lawmakers voted to retain the positions of Rep. Sage Dixon, (R-Ponderay), as the Assistant Majority Leader and Rep. Dustin Manwaring, (R-Pocatello), as Majority Caucus Chair. Rep. Megan Blanksma, (R-Hammett), was voted out of her position as Majority Leader. On Monday, Feb. 12th, the Republican Caucus is set to produce an additional statement following the election of a new Majority Leader.

***

A bill that has been brought before the Idaho legislature five separate times, Senate Bill 1234, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, (D-Boise), had a hearing on the first of February in the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee. The proposed legislation would allow for, “enrollees to receive up to a six-month supply of prescribed contraceptives.”

(Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, (D-Boise), presents Senate Bill 1234 to Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee on Feb. 1st, 2024.)

Dr. Abby Davids, who practices family medicine in Boise, spoke on behalf of the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP) and as a member of the IAFP’s Reproductive Health Committee. “We know that particularly women in rural areas, which is most of our state, face a lot of geographic barriers to care…and so longer duration prescriptions help reduce that disparity that they’re already facing just because of where they live.” She later continued, “This is a cost-saving measure. Facilitating affordable access to contraception not only improves health but also reduces healthcare cost.”

Senator Dan Foreman, (R-Viola), questioned whether the government should control a private sector business decision. “Insurance companies and insurers can speak for themselves. They can iron these problems out on their own. It’s not the proper role of government to intercede and jump between a business and a customer and say here’s how things are going to go. Again, I understand the intent and I applaud the intent, but this is not the proper role of government.” In a five to three vote, with one Senator marked absent, Senate Bill 1234 was sent to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation. On Thursday, Feb. 8th, the Senate approved sending Senate Bill 1234 to the House floor in a nineteen to sixteen vote.

***

The House Revenue & Taxation Committee held a hearing on February 8th, to introduce House Bill 521. The legislation “provides the largest state investment in school facilities through three main avenues.” Rep. Moyle told the committee the bill is about tax relief, accountability, and funding for school buildings.

***

Monday, February 12, 2024, is the 36th Legislative Day of the Second Regular Session of the Sixty-seventh Idaho Legislature. 

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Posted February 11, 2024

State Capitol Roundup

by Sophie Spanbauer

Idaho Public Radio State Capitol Bureau

U of I McClure Center

BOISE- Here in the third week of the legislative session, bills continue to circulate on the Idaho Senate and House floors, public testimony is heard in committees, and debate continues in committee rooms

. House Bill 406, sponsored by Rep. Ted Hill, R-Eagle, and Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, was one of the most extensive debates thus far.

The proposed bill adds fentanyl to the category of drugs that carry a mandatory minimum sentence. The first part of legislation focuses on fentanyl trafficking and says that anyone who knowingly produces, distributes, or transports fentanyl into Idaho is subject to a minimum sentence as well as a hefty fine, with higher amounts resulting in higher sentencing. The second part of the bill adds a new section to Idaho Code that mandates alife sentence and a $25,000 fine for those found guilty of drug-induced homicide. The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration committee heard public testimony last Friday from a packed room.

Tracy Basterrechea, Chief of Police for the Meridian Police Department, representing the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, supported the proposed legislation. He said, “We cannot ignore the fact that we are losing somebody every day in this country and in this state to the overdose of fentanyl. And our way to stop this is to protect our borders. The only border that we can protect is our Idaho borders, and we can do that by implementing mandatory minimums and keeping drug traffickers out of our state.”  

Dr. Cate Heil, a Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine Physician in Boise and Nampa, testified in opposition to the bill. She said, “The difficulty with this bill is it doesn’t necessarily differentiate between folks who are using low-level amounts and then those who are using big amounts of fentanyl.” Dr. Heil explained she is worried this blocks judges from making decisions based on the person’s intent. “About 65% of folks who are imprisoned do meet criteria for a substance use disorder and up to about 19% report regular use of opioids while they’re in prison.” She concluded by saying, “If this bill does pass, how are we going to improve treatment for these folks if they do get into prison?” After concluding testimony on Friday, the Committee convened on Tuesday and in a 16 to 2 vote, sent House Bill 406 to the House floor with no recommendation. 

(Photo: Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, addresses the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee on Jan. 23.)

Another piece of legislation that stirred up emotions this week was House Bill 400, sponsored by Rep. Julianne Young (R-Blackfoot) and Sen. Ben Toews (R-Coeur d’ Alene). The proposed bill would replace the term ‘fetus’ or ‘fetus and embryo’ with the term ‘preborn child’ or ‘child’ throughout state statute. 

During the House State Affairs Committee hearing on Monday morning, Rep. Young explained, “We just have used these terms in a way that’s not clear and consistent and every time that we do this it’s from fertilization to birth. The term preborn child clearly captures that full span and is more accurateand I believe also more clearly expresses the respect and value that the state of Idaho places on the lives of these preborn children.” The committee then listened to public testimony for approximately two hours. At the end of the testimony, ChairmanBrent Crane, R-Nampa, put the committee at ease to speak privately with the bill sponsor. Rep. Crane and Rep. Young left the hearing room and were followed to the backroom by Rep. Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, Rep. James Holtzclaw, R-Meridian, and Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa. When the representatives returned, the House State Affairs committee voted to hold the bill in committee subject to the call of the Chair.

The House State Affairs Committee has had no shortage of contentious bills this week, as House Bill 415, sponsored by Rep. Ted Hill and Sen. Todd Lakey, was heard Wednesday morning. The proposed bill would allow public K-12 school employees possessing an enhanced license to carry concealed weapons on school grounds. The proposed bill would alsorequire the removal of “Gun Free Zone” signs from public school property. On a party line vote, House Bill 415 was sent to the House of Representatives floor with a do pass recommendation.

(Photos: Thursday featured the Boise Acupuncture Co-op in the Rotunda.)

(
The Second Regular Session of the Sixty-seventh Idaho Legislature heads into the 22nd Legislative Day on Monday, January 29, 2024.

Posted January 27, 2024

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