Not Enough

March 29, 2022 

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die."

--Edward Kennedy

The Idaho Legislature has adjourned until Thursday, March 31, when we plan to adjourn sine die, meaning the regular session will be over for 2022. I continue to serve as the Senator for District 26 until December 1, 2022.

NOT ENOUGH

In the closing days of the session, although some progress was made, much of the legislation that passed was insufficient to deal with the problems the people of Idaho face.

H701, which creates the Idaho Workforce Housing Fund, passed both houses. The fund will be used to provide gap financing for workforce housing development. Given the housing crisis in much of Idaho, this is an important step forward.

H481, which partially undoes the damage to the property tax circuit breaker last session, passed both houses. It sets the maximum property value for triggering the circuit breaker at $300,000 or 150% of median assessed value, whichever is greater. While it is better than nothing, it simply does not cover enough people. Estimates vary, but we left at least 600 people who were previously eligible for the circuit breaker out of luck.

H735aaS repeals the county Charity and Indigent Fund Levy and reduces what counties can levy. It also creates a new Public Defense Fund for the State to fund indigent public defense going forward. This provides some property tax relief by shifting county obligations to state-provided funding and is a positive step.

On close votes the Workforce Development Council and a childcare supplemental budget passed the House--both had already passed the Senate. The childcare supplemental bill provides $15 million in American Rescue Act federal funds for childcare infrastructure grants, and the Workforce Development Council's budget included $25 million from ARPA funds in workforce training grants to businesses. Unfortunately, the legislature failed to take up the Governor's budget request for additional ARPA funds to address lengthy waiting lists in Head Start programs in Idaho.

H790 is a shadow of the hopes for statewide full-day kindergarten. While districts may use literacy funds to fund optional full-day kindergarten, the bill does not even mention kindergarten, the funding is not stable and sustainable, and it takes local control away from school boards. Further, it does not set up a uniform (as required in Article IX of Idaho's Constitution) system for common public schools

WEBSITE FOR PUBLIC MEETING INFORMATION

The State Controller's Office has launched a new website with information on all public meetings being held by State executive branch employees. Townhall.idaho.gov is intended to improve transparency and make it easier for the people of Idaho to participate in our government by providing a centralized website.

NEW DISTRICTS

Election day for primary races for the Idaho legislature is May 17, and for the general election, it is November 8, 2022. With reapportionment, the boundary lines for legislative districts have changed. Blaine and Lincoln Counties remain in District 26, which now also includes Jerome County. Camas and Gooding Counties will be in District 24, along with Twin Falls County. You can check your voter registration status, find your polling location, and more on the Secretary of State's website.

Respectfully,

Michelle