Dear Friends,
I had a great surprise when I went to my mail slot here at the Capitol. About 50 high school students sent me a letter and I have promised my constituents to answer every letter. I have lots of letters to write over the next few days. They were fun to read. They had questions about tax relief, gas prices, property taxes, and a lot of the issues we all hear about. But this was my favorite part, almost all the students asked me how I was doing and thanked me for representing their part of Idaho. Here are some of their questions and my answers. Question. What is your favorite part of being a legislator? Answer. I love meeting all the great people from my District and working on the issues that are important to them. Question. Since you are a teacher when you are not in session, do you miss school? Answer. I miss it more than they know. I miss chatting with students about issues and events, I miss seeing their optimism about life, I miss their smiles and listening to them talk about their ideas and opinions. Question. What do you try and focus on in the Capitol? Answer. It is interesting to be in the Capitol, but I try and make decisions that will help Idaho continue to be the greatest place in the country. I try and do the right thing for the future of Idaho.
If any of you send me a letter, I will send you a personal note. I really enjoy hearing from my constituents and the great people of Idaho. Thanks for all you do, but I really want to say thank you to the students that took the time to write me.
Sincerely,
Representative Bundy
Idaho Military Youth of Year
I am pleased to announce support for the Boys and Girls Club 2022 Military Youth of the Year, Ean and the 2022 Youth of the Year Alex. Ean is a member of my Legislative District and it was a pleasure to meet Ean, his family, friends and teachers.
Senators Crapo and Risch Address the Idaho Legislature
Current and Former Senators Pay Tribute to Colleagues at the Annual Senate Memorial Service
House of Concurrent Resolution Recognizes the Valuable Work of Mission43 on Behalf of Idaho Veterans and their Families
Senate Passes Down Syndrome Diagnosis Bill
Several Senators spoke in favor of the bill, including Senators Kelly Anthon (R-Burley), Lori Den Hartog (R-Meridian), Jim Guthrie (R-McCammon), and Christy Zito (R-Hammett). The bill passed unanimously and was transmitted to the House of Representatives where it will be taken up by the House Health and Welfare Committee.
Idaho Transportation Board Moves to Accelerate Major Roadways Projects
On February 17th, the Idaho Transportation Board voted to accelerate the improvement of four major Idaho roadways. The projects will modernize aging infrastructure, improve safety, and reduce congestion. The roadways included in this accelerated timeline are I-86/I-15 System Interchange in Pocatello/Chubbuck; I-90 and State Highway 41 (SH-41) interchange in Post Falls; State Highway 16 (SH-16) from Interstate 84 to Chinden Boulevard; and US-20/26 from SH-16 to Interstate 84 in the Treasure Valley.
Last May, in an effort to address the state’s rapid growth, the Idaho Legislature passed a historic transportation revenue package as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. “Idaho is the fastest growing state in the nation. To keep up with the demands of growth, these funds will help save Idahoans’ time, keep us safe on our roads, and make our state’s economy even stronger,” Governor Brad Little said. “I appreciate the work of the Idaho Transportation Board, the department and the Legislature for acting quickly to put this money to work with projects that will benefit the state.”
The Transportation Board also approved bond funds for several other planning and design projects, including I-84, Centennial Interchange to Franklin Interchange, SH-55 Farmway to Middleton Rd. and I-84, Burley and Heyburn Interchanges.
Bill to Protect Idaho's Utility Workers from Assault Headed to the Senate Floor
Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee Shifts into Budget Setting Phase of the 2022 Legislative Session
The Species Conservation budget matched the Governor’s recommendation and passed 17-2, as did the Soil and Water Conservation Commission budget. The budgets for the State Independent Living Council Budget, the Endowment Fund Investment Board budget and the Vocational Rehabilitation Division passed unanimously.
The budget that produced the most discussion on Monday morning was a supplemental appropriation for $5 million from the state general fund surplus to give additional support to senior centers across Idaho. In order to help Idaho seniors maintain quality of life as they age, the support would include improving meal site sanitation supplies, upgrading refrigerators and freezers, adding or repairing wheelchair ramps, upgrading or replacing dining tables and chairs, and standardizing the meal co-pay to $3 for home-delivered senior meals. This budget passed 17-2. To become law, budget bills approved by JFAC still need passage in the House and Senate and the Governor’s signature.
Early Childhood Education on Display at the Idaho Capitol
Idaho Boys & Girls Club of the Year
IDAHO BY THE NUMBERS
Idaho Workforce Development Council
Bolstered by $1M in CARES Act funds, the Council started a new project, Idaho Launch, in November 2020. As part of that project, they conducted a survey of Idaho employers. They learned that 80% of employers were hiring, in industries ranging from construction to healthcare to transportation. The Council operates in partnership with the private sector, Idaho Business for Education, and the State Board of Education and has trained thousands of Idahoans. In conjunction with their partners, the Council launched a second website, Next Steps Idaho, a comprehensive set of resources and tools pertaining to education, training, and career exploration. The site is intended as a resource for anyone looking for information on careers, apprenticeships, technical education, or who don’t yet know what they want to do. The entire site and all of its self-discovery tools are 100% free and open to the public.
LEGISLATION TRACKER
S1311 Adds to existing law to designate the Idaho cut as the official state cut of Idaho for faceted gemstones. Filed for Third Reading.
S1312 This proposed legislation would amend existing law to revise provisions regarding the careless exposure of barbed wire and to revise penalties. Printed and referred to Agricultural Affairs.
S1319 This bill amends contracts regarding school transportation services. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation. Read a second and third time.
S1280 This bill would define dyslexia in Idaho code, and recognize the unique influence and challenges students with characteristics of dyslexia face in developing their reading and literacy skills. The bill would require that school districts and charter schools assess students in kindergarten through fifth grade for characteristics of dyslexia so plans for specific interventions can be identified and offered. Passed the Senate 33-0-2 and referred to House Education.
S1254 Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to remove certain provisions regarding air quality related to motor vehicles and to provide revised provisions regarding air quality programs. Reported out without recommendation as amended. Amendments ordered printed, referred for engrossment.
H 461 Amends existing law to revise eligibility requirements for the Armed Forces and Public Safety Officer Scholarship. Passed the House 67-0-3, and filed for a third Senate reading.
S1291 Amends existing law to provide alternative methods of obtaining certain certifications. Reported out without recommendation as amended. Amendments ordered printed, referred for engrossment.
S1228 Repeals existing law relating to enclosures of reservoirs and dumps. Passed the Senate 35-0 and referred to House Resources and Conservation
HCR 29 States findings of the Legislature and encourages certain officers, agencies, and employees of the State to become informed about the impacts of traumatic childhood experiences and to implement interventions and practices to develop resilience in children and adults who have suffered from traumatic childhood experiences. Ordered Transmitted to Secretary of State
S1287 Adds to existing law to establish the rural nursing loan repayment program. Failed 14-17-4
H 444 Amends 2021 session law to extend a sunset date to July 1, 2023. Filed for a second reading with Do Pass recommendation. Sent to the Governor’s desk.
H 461 This bill aims to update Idaho code 33-4302 so that the child or spouse of a military member who has fallen in combat is eligible for this scholarship, seeing that they meet other prerequisites laid out in the bill. Passed the House 67-0 and filed for a third Senate reading.
H 506 This bill would amend Section 33-4302(7) of Idaho Code to allow the Idaho Division of Veterans Services to determine disability for members of the Armed Forces, instead of the United States Social Security Administration. Passed the House 66-0 and filed for a third Senate reading.
HB 436 Income tax rebate; reduces independent and corporate income tax rate. House passed 57-13; Passed Senate 27-7-1. Signed by the Governor on February 4, 2022.
HB 441 This bill offers absentee ballot assistance for those in nursing care facilities by designating three authorized sources of voter assistance. Referred to House State Affairs.
HB 443: This proposed legislation will create a dedicated fund to bring school district employees’ healthcare coverage up to the same standard as that of state employees. The bill passed the House 55-14, passed the Senate 32-3 and has been signed by the Governor.
HB 450 This proposed legislation will provide employers with unemployment insurance tax rate stability and consistency by extending the 2021 unemployment insurance base tax rate over a period of two years. This will result in a tax savings of $64 million for Idaho businesses over the next two years. Reported Signed by Governor on February 18, 2022.
SB 1226 This legislation declares that Idaho students can be designated as self-directed learners if they meet the criteria laid out in the bill. Introduced, printed and referred to Senate Education.
SB 1239 This bill would require the legislative session to end on or before the last Friday in March each year unless two-thirds of each house votes to go longer. A similar bill was introduced last year, but died in the house. Introduced, printed and referred to Senate State Affairs.
SB 1241 This bill makes a change to Idaho Code by increasing the maximum value of a home that qualifies for the property tax reduction program (aka Circuit Breaker) to assist more low-income applicants to remain in their homes. Reported out of Senate Local Government & Taxation with a do-pass recommendation. On Senate Second Reading Calendar.
SB 1249 This bill corrects an error in last year’s H 389 so that expiring Urban Renewal Districts come into local property tax budgets at eighty percent not subject to the eight percent cap. It also closes an unintended loophole regarding the use of foregone balances in property tax budgets. Reported out of Senate Local Government & Taxation with a do-pass recommendation. Passed the Senate 34-0-1 and referred to House Revenue and Taxation
SB 1255 This bill creates The Empowering Parents Grant Program which will provide funding to parents to help meet their child’s educational needs and to address any learning loss with grants of $1,000 per student or a maximum of $3,000 per family for public and non-public students. Delivered to the Governor.
SB 1262 This legislation enhances the protections for firearms, ammunition, and components during a declared disaster emergency. Delivered to the Governor.