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- Now in its 13th week, the Idaho Legislature is hoping to wrap up its business in the Statehouse.

On Wednesday, April 3rd, lawmakers moved to recess for a week to allow Gov. Little time to review legislation passed by the House and Senate chambers. Lawmakers will return on April 10.

One of the bills up for gubernatorial review is House Bill 710, also known as The Children’s School and Library Protection Act.  

The proposed legislation is co-sponsored by Speaker of the House Mike Moyle, R-Star, President Pro Tempore Chuck Winder, R-Boise, and Rep. Jaron Crane, R-Nampa. House Bill 710 was debated on the Senate floor in the morning and the House floor in the afternoon on Wednesday.  

Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene, debated in favor saying, “The small number of books that I’ve seen, and it is a small number, that would fit the definition of harmful to minors could easily be put behind a desk and kept out of the reach of children. And we’re talking about maybe 10 books, maybe 20 books. We’re not talking about hundreds of books. So, I would contend that there is no fiscal impact, that it would be easy to keep this out of the reach of minors in an adult-only area which could just be behind the desk. If there’s parents that want their children to have access to that, all they have to do is look behind the desk and ask for that, but it wouldn’t be accessible to minors. It feels sometimes like we’re acting like the material in question…it’s like we’re talking about material that doesn’t fit the definition that is in this bill. So, I just wanted to point that out that this material is the same material that people would be criminally charged for if they were not a librarian or a teacher.”  

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(Photo: Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins, presents House Bill 710 on the Senate floor. Apr. 3, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

Sen. Carrie Semmelroth, D-Boise, debated against House Bill 710. “We know that Idahoans value local control and parental rights. However, under this bill, one person from anywhere can decide what is allowed in Idaho’s public libraries because there’s no taxpayer requirement, there’s no residency requirement, and there’s no library membership requirement. So, someone from Florida can send a list to an Idaho rural library and they now have 60 days to review these items. There’s no requirement that this challenger has to read these items. They can just send these lists to libraries anywhere in Idaho, which will require our librarians to carefully review these materials.”

In her concluding statements Sen. Semmelroth said, “I would just ask, why have libraries and books been targeted and banned throughout history? Knowledge is powerful. Ideas are contagious and those who value freedom of expression and diverse perspectives know that intellectual freedom and free thinking is critical for a healthy democracy. So, to my librarian friends, to parents, and to our local communities, I urge you to keep protecting democracy. Keep resisting censorship. History will remember your voice and will remember what side you were on.” 

House Bill 710 passed the Senate floor in a vote of 24 to 11 and was transferred to the House floor that same day. The House of Representatives had another fierce debate over the bill, and ultimately passed in a vote of 45 to 24, with one Representative marked absent. House Bill 710 was delivered to Gov. Little on the morning of April 4th for his consideration.  

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(Photo: Dr. Jim Souza shares insights into the workforce challenges he has faced concerning Idaho’s abortion ban laws. Apr. 3, 2024. Photo by Sophie Spanbauer)

A presentation on workforce challenges concerning women’s healthcare that had previously been canceled last week by the Chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee, Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, was given on Wednesday morning in a committee room. The presentation was led by the CEO of the Idaho Medical Association Susie Keller and the President and CEO of the Idaho Hospital Association Brian Whitlock. 

During the presentation, Keller explained, “In February of this year the Idaho Physician Wellbeing Action Collaborative compiled data into a report that was published by the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare. And this report shows that unfortunately between August of 2022 and November of 2023, we lost about a quarter of Idaho’s OGBYN physician workforce. So, using publicly available data, the report shows around little over 50 OBGYNs, about 22% of those women’s health physicians, have either left the state or retired from practice. So now we’re at about 210 OBGYNs. During that same time frameIdaho lost five of our nine maternal-fetal specialists, those are folks that take care of high-risk pregnancies.” 

The panel of speakers included multiple physicians sharing their stories navigating Idaho’s abortion laws including struggles with recruitment, Ken McClure from Givens Pursley LLP providing current legal realities, and the CEO of Valor Health Brad Turpen who shared his story of the difficult decision to close the labor and delivery unit due to an inability to consistently staff the program.

Susie Keller provided closing remarks for the presentation. “As you’ve heard, regardless of what happens with the U.S. Supreme Court, Idaho still needs a maternal health exception to our abortion ban. It will bring clarity to the legal environment for treating these pregnancy complications. It will reduce uncertainty and fear amongst physicians and patients as well. It will help stabilize our workforce and it will help with recruitment of new providers into the State of Idaho.”

Posted April 7, 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- 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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