State Capitol Roundup

Staff report

The Idaho Legislature adjourned Sine Die on April 10.

The Senate adjourned Sine Die at 2:42 P.M.

The House adjourned Sine Die at 2:49 P.M.

(The Idaho State Capitol, January 9, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

Governor Brad Little thanked his legislative partners from across the political spectrum for their support of 99% of his IDAHO WORKS plan.

The Legislature passed Governor Little’s school facilities and tax relief bill while fully funding LAUNCH, the program designed to help graduating high school seniors stay in Idaho to fill jobs in high demand.

“Once again, we finished a legislative session marked by milestone achievements that will greatly improve the lives of Idahoans for generations to come,” Gov. Little said. “Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, with one of the strongest economies anywhere.”

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed HB 710, the bill on libraries and prohibited materials.

Little vetoed SB 1323, relative to public utilities. Little says the bill “would create a carveout for water companies to operate in Idaho as a monopoly.”

Little vetoed SB 1314, on the state investing in silver and gold. Little said the bill failed “to take into account the many additional costs that will be borne by taxpayers for the storage, safeguard, and purchase of commodities such as gold or silver.”

Gov. Little allowed two bills— HB 726, administration appropriation; and HB 770, transportation funding— become law without his signature.

Among the bills that didn’t pass– SB 1416, on emergency medical services in the state. It stalled in the House State Affairs Committee after passing in the Senate.

Democrats have been critical of the session, on issues including abortion, libraries, and summer lunches. Speaking to an Idaho Democratic Party event in Moscow via video conference on April 10, Rep. Lauren Necochea urged action. “Our little caucus does make a difference, every day when we’re in there, and we can make more of a difference…if there are more of us,” she said.

(Gov. Little’s State of the State and Budget Address, January 8, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

In reviewing the session, Governor Little highlighted several initiatives, including:

• House Bill 521, which increases funding by a net of $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to address unmet capital construction needs in school districts and improve student achievement.
• $150 million in new property tax relief.
• $200 million to fund repairs and improvements on local bridges.
• $302.8 million in ongoing transportation funding to cover the state’s known deferred maintenance and safety gaps.
• $30 million to ensure a stable water supply.
• $20 million in additional funding for the state to manage and expand access to Idaho’s great outdoors.
• $6.6 million to continue the fight against invasive quagga mussels.

(The Idaho House of Representatives. January 12, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

“We responsibly invested in school facilities, workforce, roads, bridges, water, and other infrastructure while delivering even more tax relief for our state’s hardworking families and businesses,” Little said. “Our state budget is structurally sound and we are more than ready for anything that comes our way.”

Posted April 14, 2024

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State Capitol Roundup

by Sophie Spanbauer

Idaho Public Radio State Capitol Bureau

U of I McClure Center

BOISE- March 29th officially marked a week since the original target sine-die date of Mar. 22nd for the 2024 Idaho Legislative Session. Appropriation bills struggling to pass through the House and Senate Chambers are what is keeping legislators from packing up their boxes and heading home.

One of those appropriation bills, House Bill 734, was one of the most contentious votes of the Session. House Bill 734 provides appropriations for Idaho’s Colleges and Universities for the fiscal year 2025.

The sponsor of House Bill 734, Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian, opened the debate for the proposed legislation on Wednesday by explaining, “House Bill 734 is the secondary Appropriation Bill for our universities.” Rep. Petzke finished his opening debate by saying, “I’d also like to point out that we once again included language around DEI spending, very similar language to what we used last year that says that they may not use State appropriated funds to support diversity, equity, and inclusion or social justice ideology as part of any student activities, clubs, etc., and they have to turn in a report to the legislature to verify that.”

(PHOTO: Rep. Britt Raybould, R-Rexburg, debates in favor of House Bill 734. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, debated against the bill saying, “Just with the Boise State and University of Idaho alone, they have over fifty positions dedicated to LGBTQ and DEI. And so, we may say we’re not spending any State money, but the fact that they’re getting other money from another source to fund what we’ve said we don’t want them to fund and we’re still giving them 3.8 million dollars, I say we reduce this budget 3.8 million dollars and then they can take the 3.8 million dollars they’re putting into the DEI and LGBTQ agenda and it’s a wash. So, we should not be funding this nonsense in our colleges, and for that I am going to be a red light on this one.”

Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, debated in favor of the bill saying, “We have the CAMP programs for migrant workers. We have student support services where all types of students go. LCSC has a Native American population, and there is a group and an office where they can come because many of those students are first-generation students that have never been outside of their own culture. And so, I think we need to be careful that we are not saying that every single dollar that is spent is going in a nefarious way.” When the dust settled and the votes were tallied, House Bill 734 passed the House floor in a 38 to 30 vote with 2 legislators marked absent. House Bill 734 now sits on the Senate’s third reading calendar for further consideration.

There were multiple bills this week that failed to pass the Senate floor, including Senate Bill 1445, which was the proposed enhancement budget for the Welfare Division of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. A section of that budget provided $545,300 for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, which is a federal program that provides lunches during the summer for low-income Idaho children.

Sen. Carrie Semmelroth, D-Boise, debated in favor of the bill. She read an email from Theresa Vawter of the Idaho Foodbank stating, “This program is particularly important because in Idaho we have over 40,000 children who experience food insecurity in the summer and these rates are consistently higher in rural areas. This program will allow children, particularly in rural Idaho who struggle with hunger in the summer when they don’t have access to free and reduced lunches that they would receive in their schools, it would provide them with access to lunches and help address their food insecurities. This is an important program; Idaho will just only be responsible for the administration for it.”

Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, debated against the bill arguing, “The problem that I see is this program is easy to abuse. If we’re giving kids a debit card, anyone can utilize that card and again, it was pointed out that they can take this anywhere they want to that takes food stamps, like the gas station, and be able to utilize it. Our national debt is growing by 1 trillion dollars every hundred days, and now we’re going to add more onto this. There is no such thing as a free lunch, Senators. But this is something that I feel is creating a problem because it is creating the environment of putting kids on welfare so that they continue to want to be on it.”

The debate concluded with 10 Senators voting to pass, but ultimately 25 votes in opposition led to the end of the road for Senate Bill 1445.

Posted March 30, 2024

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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- Transgender Idahoans are facing major potential legislative change. House Bill 668, which, “adds to existing law to prohibit the use of public funds for gender transition procedures,” had its hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Thursday, Mar. 14th.

Dr. Marvin Alviso, a practicing family physician in Boise, testified against House Bill 668 saying, “H 668, if passed, would represent a grave violation of medical ethics. It denies transgender individuals the right to make informed decisions about their healthcare; contradicting the principles of patient autonomy and informed consent. By restricting access to gender-affirming treatments, this bill undermines the dignity and wellbeing of not just transgender individuals, but their families and support systems as well.”

Twelve people testified, all of whom opposed the proposed legislation. Despite the pushback, the Senate State Affairs Committee voted four to three to send House Bill 668 to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Another bill that impacts the health of a specific group of Idahoans is House Bill 399, which was debated on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Mar. 13th. According to the floor sponsor, Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Abby Lee (R, Fruitland), “House Bill 399 reestablishes the Maternal Mortality Review Committee process in Idaho.” Sen. Lee explained that following the proposed legislation, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee will be moved under the Board of Medicine and away from the Department of Health and Welfare. Sen. Lee explained, “We are the only state in the nation that does not have a process for reviewing why mothers die in Idaho.”

(Sen. Abby Lee on the Senate floor, March 13, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

In a vote of 25 to 10, House Bill 399 passed the Senate and was returned to the House of Representatives. The bill goes to Gov. Little for his consideration.

Sen. Lee’s legislative success did not stop there, as Monday, Mar. 11th, marked her introduction of Senate Bill 1354 to the Senate floor. According to Senate Bill 1354, “Idaho law currently allows for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for adults through informed consent to treatment and for children with a court order. ECT has been demonstrated to be effective in treating severe depression and other psychological disorders that are resistant to pharmaceutical treatment and other interventions.”

Sen. Lee explained in her opening debate, “This proposal simply allows for ECT to be administered for children that are 12 and up, so specifically teenage. And why is that important? Because we are also seeing that many of the psychotropic drugs and anti-depressants that are being prescribed for teenagers who have treatment resistance disorders are not effective.”

Sen. Ben Adams (R-Nampa) debated against the bill saying, “I feel a strong responsibility to protect children, kids, from things that I can’t imagine a brain seizure wouldn’t permanently alter them, I think that’s the point, right? So, as far as the broadness of what this is used for, I can’t support it….” Sen. Lee later rebutted, “I have seen personally how this has changed people’s lives and their families and it is one opportunity that is available here in Idaho

for Idaho families. Senate Bill 1354 passed the Senate floor in a 23 to 12 vote and was transferred to the House of Representatives Health and Welfare Committee.

Sen. Lee was also successful in her floor sponsorship of House Bill 441, which removes fentanyl testing strips from being classified as “drug paraphernalia” throughout Idaho law. House Bill 441 received an incredible 98% vote of approval rating from the legislature, with only two legislators total who voted in opposition, including Sen. Dan Foreman (R-Viola) and Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld (R- Twin Falls).

On Wednesday, Mar. 13th, House Bill 441 passed through the Senate in a 33 to 2 vote and now awaits Gov. Little’s consideration.

Although Senate Bill 1289 was killed on the Senate floor during week seven of the legislative session, here in week ten, the debate over “obscene materials” in public schools and community libraries is far from over.

(Photo: Sign of the times in Riggins, Idaho. March 12, 2024. Photo by Glenn Mosley)

House Bill 710, also known as The Children’s School and Library Protection Act, “requires public schools and community libraries to take reasonable steps in restricting children’s access to obscene or harmful material. A parent or guardian of a minor child who accesses such material in violation of this policy would be entitled to bring a civil action against the school or library for damages and injunctive relief.”

Co-sponsor of the legislation Rep. Jaron Crane (R-Nampa) explained during his opening debate on the House floor on Wednesday, Mar. 13th, that this is his fifth iteration of this bill. “This bill here, House Bill 710, is House Bill 384, but with a couple of modifications that have come out since Senate Bill 1289 failed.”

Rep. Dan Garner (R-Clifton) debated against House Bill 710 saying, “This is a local government issue. It is overreach by the state government. There was a time not too long ago when the Republican Party put a big emphasis on local governance. I don’t know- it’s still in the platform, but they don’t seem to care about it much anymore. My district, if this was in there, the local people would stand up and elect a new library board or new county commissioners, or whatever they needed to do. That is what needs to happen. This is a local government issue.”

When the debate concluded, lawmakers passed House Bill 710 to the Senate in a vote of 47 to 23.

Posted March 17, 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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Idaho U.S. Attorney: “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination”

by Idaho Public Radio staff

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election” — Idaho U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit. 

With election season here, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit says his office is working to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to vote free of violence, intimidation, discrimination, and other criminal activity in the election process.

 “The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process,” Hurwit said.

Multiple Assistant United States Attorneys from around Idaho have been appointed to lead the efforts to ensure safe, free, and fair elections.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy,” Hurwit said.  “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  

Federal law protects against crimes such as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho can be reached at (208) 334-1211.

The Salt Lake City FBI field office, which covers Idaho, can be reached by the public at (801) 579-1400.

Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. 

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

There were lively debates in the Idaho House of Representatives, both on the House floor and in committee, as multiple bills stirred up emotions this past week.

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On Monday the House debated House Bill 406, sponsored by Rep. Ted Hill, (R-Eagle), and Rep. Chris Allgood, (R-Caldwell). The proposed legislation 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.

(Rep. Chris Allgood, (R-Caldwell), addresses the House chambers as he opens the debate for House Bill 406 on Jan. 29.)

House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, (D-Boise), debated against the bill saying, “We have very tough judges who are very tough on crime. They are very capable of knowing a bad guy and handing out a really serious sentence. The only thing that this bill does is force that judge to lock up a person that they don’t think should be locked up.”

Rep. Kenny Wroten, (R-Nampa), debated in support of the bill. “I stated if I have a bad kid, I’d rather get collect calls for five years from the penitentiary than if I have a good kid and I get one call from the coroner. This kills users and it kills people indiscriminately. You don’t have to be a user for this thing to kill you. We need to stop it. We need to give our law enforcement the tools to stop it.”

After a failed motion to send it to the amending order from Rep. Heather Scott, (R-Blanchard), the House of Representatives passed House Bill 406 to the Senate in a 55 to 13 vote, with two absent legislators.

Debates on House Bill 415, sponsored by Rep. Ted Hill and Sen. Todd Lakey, (R-Nampa), were heard on the House floor Wednesday morning. The bill would allow for public K-12 school employees who possess an enhanced license to carry concealed weapons on school grounds as well as a mandated removal of “Gun Free Zone” signs from public school property.

Rep. Josh Tanner, (R-Eagle), debated in favor of the bill saying, “That is our constitutional right and yet we’ve somehow segmented an area where we’ve got vulnerable kids and expected these teachers to deal with a situation- a potential massive situation- without anything to themselves or the kids.”

Rep. Julie Yamamoto, (R-Caldwell), debated in opposition to the bill, where she shared her experience as a schoolteacher and administrator. She said, “I think that this body may be underestimating the people that we have in the classroom now and the districts who have already availed themselves of the law that allows for them to do exactly what the good gentleman intends. Good intention. Not the right answer.”

(Rep. Julie Yamamoto, (R-Caldwell), debates against House Bill 415 on Jan. 31.)

After the debate was closed, legislators passed House Bill 415 to the Senate in a 53 to 16 vote, with one lawmaker marked absent.

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A hearing was held on Tuesday in the House State Affairs Committee for House Joint Resolution 1, which proposes to give voters the choice to repeal the Blaine Amendment from the Idaho State Constitution. Co-sponsor of the joint resolution, Rep. Elaine Price, (R-Coeur d’Alene), said, “This amendment is rooted in bigotry and discrimination. This has been turned into a separation of church and state. Idaho addresses the real form of church and state in its state constitution. This resolution is just trying to get this discriminary language out of our constitution.”

Rowan Astra, representing Satanic Idaho, testified in support saying, “I’m excited about the ability to truly represent religious plurality which is a value that’s upheld in Idaho and the United States of America. So, I look forward to the opportunity to be able to start a Satanic K-12 performing arts school and being able to have access to the same funds that any other religious school would have.”

 Dr. Jean Henscheid, standing on behalf of Kathy Dawes of Moscow and herself, testified in opposition. She said, “Idaho’s Blaine Amendment is alive and well and must remain so because it serves the purpose it has always provided: to assure the separation of church and state, which our nation’s founders defended.” She later said, “If this resolution passes, the state will undoubtedly be subject to an expensive tax-payer-funded lawsuit.”

After the testimony ended, Rep. Joe Palmer, (R-Meridian), made a motion to hold House Joint Resolution 1 subject to the call of the chair. He explained that while he supports the legislation and thinks it can move forward, he has a couple of technical questions that need to be addressed before moving forward. The committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion, putting a pause on the legislation moving forward.

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In an eight to five vote on Thursday morning, the House Health and Welfare Committee voted to hold House Bill 419, the bill “to require certain federal waivers for continued Medicaid Expansion eligibility,” in committee.

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Monday, February 5, 2024, is the 29th Legislative Day of the the Second Regular Session of the Sixty-seventh Idaho Legislature.

Posted February 4, 2024

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