Last week was the end of the 122-day 2021 legislative session, the longest in Idaho history. The session, which has been full of strong arguments, legislative proposals to advance liberty, and many to tear it down, ended with more of the same last Wednesday. Usually, at the end of the legislative session, the House and…
Category: Legislative Summary
2021 Legislative Update: Week 15
PRO-LIFE Update: House Bill 220 (previously House Bill 17), sponsored by Representative Bruce Skaugg (R-Nampa), would ban taxpayer funds from being sent to abortion providers and prohibit any public contracting or public funding to a facility or organization that offers abortions. This past week, the House accepted amendments to this bill that were previously passed…
2021 Legislative Update: Week 14
EDUCATION Update: House Bill 377 would protect free speech and prohibit K-12 teachers and professors of higher education institutions from requiring students to adopt a position on any issue personally. It promotes non-discriminatory practices in the classroom and allows for funds to be retracted from a school if there is a violation of this policy….
2021 Legislative Update: Week 13
EDUCATION New Legislation: House Bill 377 would protect free speech and prohibit K-12 teachers and professors of higher education institutions from requiring students to adopt a position on any issue personally. It promotes non-discriminatory practices in the classroom and allows for funds to be retracted from a school if there is a violation of this…
2021 Legislative Update: Week 12
EDUCATION New Legislation: House Bill 364, called the Protecting Critical Thinking in Higher Education Act and sponsored by Representative Barbara Ehardt (R-Idaho Falls), was introduced this week and passed out of the House Education Committee. This bill would reinforce the right to free speech and is being presented in response to the stories of discrimination…
2021 Legislative Update: Week 11
GOOD GOVERNANCE Update: This week, Senate Concurrent Resolution 107, sponsored by Senator Jim Guthrie (R-McCammon), passed the Senate by a vote of 28 to 7. This resolution establishes a committee to study the issue of illegal immigrants driving on Idaho roads without insurance and knowledge of United States driving laws, with consideration of offering a…
2021 Legislative Update: Week 10
EMPLOYMENT & TAXES New Legislation: This week, House Bill 332 was introduced by Rep. Steven Harris (R-Meridian), passed out of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, and filed for second reading. This tax relief bill proposes to reduce all income tax brackets and set the top bracket to 6.5%, retroactive to January 2021. It also…
2021 Legislative Update: Week 9
EMPLOYMENT & TAXES New Legislation: This week, Senate Bill 1161, introduced by Senator Jim Guthrie (R-McCammon), was referred to the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee and sent to be amended. This bill would add regulation to the system of apprenticeships for electricians. The system would designate one journeyman electrician to every two apprentices. New Legislation:…
2021 Legislative Update: Week 8
ECONOMY, TAXATION, AND TRANSPORTATION Update: Senate Bill 1041, introduced by Senator Jim Guthrie (R-McCammon), would adjust a section of code that bans businesses and individuals from charging excessive prices for pharmaceuticals, water, food and fuel during a state of emergency (also known as price gouging). This bill amends that law to clarify that an exorbitant…
2021 Legislative Session: Week 7
ECONOMY, TAXATION, AND TRANSPORTATION New Legislation: House Bill 209 would funnel federal dollars that Idaho is currently receiving for Medicaid into a savings fund called a “stabilization fund.” These funds would be used if the Medicaid program ever overstepped its appropriated funds in the future. Idaho currently has massively overstepped its Medicaid budget by an…