Idaho State Capitol – On Monday, a bill sponsored by Rep. Brooke Green/(D-Boise) was sent to the amending order by the House Business committee. This legislation would protect employees from being penalized for taking earned sick leave. Employers would be required to honor their sick-leave policies without retribution toward employees. “I have heard from several constituents throughout my district that …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol – On Friday, Senator Grant Burgoyne/(D-Boise), Senator Kelly Anthon/(R-Burley) and Senator Dave Lent/(R-Idaho Falls) released their jointly drafted Circuit Breaker legislation. The current draft legislation would increase Idaho’s Property Tax Reduction program benefit (oftentimes called the Circuit Breaker) from $1,320 to $2,000 and adjust the income thresholds required to qualify for the property tax relief. Idahoans who …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol – On Thursday, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee sent H409 to the House floor with a do pass recommendation. The legislation would freeze the property tax portion of a taxing district’s budget for one year with the exception of school taxing districts. Representative Lauren Necochea/(D-Boise) and other Democrats on the committee voted against the motion to …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol – On Wednesday, House Health and Welfare printed a joint memorial sponsored by Representative Jake Ellis/(D-Boise). The memorial calls on Idaho’s congressional delegation to “take action necessary to make Suboxone more accessible to Idaho families facing opioid addiction.” Suboxone is a medication that satiates cravings by filling opioid receptors and is effective when part of MAT (medication …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol -On Monday, critical legislation was introduced in the House Health and Welfare Committee by Rep. John McCrostie/(D-Boise) to protect LGBTQ young people from the dangerous practice of conversion therapy. “Conversion therapy has been discredited by a number of prominent health organizations”. Rep. McCrostie explained. “It is an incredibly harmful practice that has no proven benefits, actually encourages …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol – On Monday, Senate Judiciary and Rules printed Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb’s/(D-Boise) Fair Chance Employment legislation. The bill, sometimes called Ban the Box, would ask employers to eliminate the box on job applications that asks, “Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense?” Sen. Buckner-Webb has been working on this issue for several years, but she is …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol – On Friday, the House Business Committee printed Representative Brooke Green’s/(D-Boise) Honoring Paid Sick Leave legislation. The legislation requires employers who offer paid sick leave to their employees to honor their own policies. Rep. Green brought the legislation after hearing concerns from constituents about employees who are penalized for taking their earned sick leave, in accordance with …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol – On Thursday, a bill sponsored by Senator David Nelson/(D-Moscow) was printed in Senate Commerce and Human Resources. The legislation would allow farmers and ranchers to save money on repairs for their high-tech farm equipment and citizens to get their own electronic equipment repaired as well. “We want to put power back in farmer’s hands.” Senator Nelson …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol – On Thursday, House Speaker Scott Bedke/(R-Oakley) brought legislation to House State Affairs that would lock the number of legislative districts at 35. The legislation is a constitutional amendment because it is the first step to changing the constitution. Currently, the constitution requires that there are at least 30 districts and no more than 35 districts. The …
Continue reading
Idaho State Capitol – On Tuesday, the House Education Committee voted to reject the Idaho Content Standards for Math, Science, and English Language Arts. The committee heard testimony over 3 days to cover language arts, math, and science. Although there was testimony in support of both retaining and rejecting the standards, speakers overwhelmingly showed up to ask the committee to …
Continue reading