From the Executive Director – Week of March 11, 2024
House Introduces Legislation to Tax Rate Regulated Utilities Based on Kilowatt Hours Sold The House Revenue and Taxation Committee introduced legislation last week to exempt the real and personal property of rate regulated electric utility companies from taxation. In lieu of paying property taxes, the three electric companies (Avista, Idaho Power, and Rocky Mountain Power) …
Continue reading “From the Executive Director – Week of March 11, 2024”
BEAD Regional Coordination and Planning Grant Now Open
By Cody Allred, Idaho Commerce The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) and the Idaho Office of Broadband are now accepting grant applications for the Idaho Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Regional Coordination and Planning Grant. The Board approved $500,000 for broadband planning funds to be used to establish a Broadband Action Team and additional …
Continue reading “BEAD Regional Coordination and Planning Grant Now Open”
Updates on Bills Monitored by IAC – Week of March 4, 2024
This morning, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee heard House Bill 625, which would shift the burden of proof from the property owner to the county assessor during Board of Equalizations (BOE) assessment hearings. Hollie Ann Strang (Gem County Assessor), Brian Stender (Canyon County Assessor), Josh Dison (Elmore County Assessor), and Justin Baldwin (Gooding County …
Continue reading “Updates on Bills Monitored by IAC – Week of March 4, 2024”
From the Executive Director – Week of February 26, 2024
Through seven weeks, the Legislature is on pace to eclipse the number of bills introduced in a single session since 2019. As of February 23rd, 717 pieces of legislation have been drafted, with 430 bills and 33 resolutions or memorials introduced. After seven weeks in 2023, 570 pieces of legislation had been drafted, with 338 …
Continue reading “From the Executive Director – Week of February 26, 2024”
IAC Opposes House Bill 517: We Need Your Help
Yesterday, on a 10-6 vote, the House Judiciary and Rules Committee voted to send House Bill 517 to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation. While the bill is meant to address the free exercise of religion and freedom of speech, constitutionally protected rights that IAC members cherish, there are problems with the mechanics of …
Continue reading “IAC Opposes House Bill 517: We Need Your Help”
House Bill 521 Advances to House Floor
House Bill 521 was sent to the floor this morning with a “do pass” recommendation. It will likely be voted on by the full House of Representatives later this week. It is an important bill for counties. While the bill itself is a tax relief bill that provides new and increased state funding for school …
Idaho’s County Members Visit Washington, D.C., for 2024 NACo Legislative Conference
By Kathy Ackerman, Idaho County Clerk and NACo Board Member Idaho was well represented at the 2024 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference held in Washington, D.C., February 10-13. The conference was attended by Kathy Ackerman (Idaho County), Skip Brandt (Idaho County), Denis Duman (Idaho County), Vic Pearson (Franklin County), Jeff Hough (Bannock County), …
IAC Priority Introduced & Fixes to H292 Proposed
New bill introductions were flying fast and furious this past week. Included in the flurry was an IAC priority, House Bill 530, which, if passed, would allow the Board of County Commissioners to increase the e911 fee up to $3.00. Representative Dustin Manwaring is the sponsor of this bill. Our goal is to get a …
Continue reading “IAC Priority Introduced & Fixes to H292 Proposed”
IAC’s Premier Event Unites County Officials and State Legislators
By Jessica Roth and Gracee Gorrell, IAC’s Communications Team The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) hosted its 2024 Midwinter Legislative Conference at the Boise Centre from January 29th to February 1st. The conference united county elected officials and county staff, local government entities, state employees, and Idaho’s legislators. “The Midwinter Legislative Conference is IAC’s biggest …
Continue reading “IAC’s Premier Event Unites County Officials and State Legislators”
From the Executive Director – Week of February 5, 2024
I want to thank everyone for attending IAC’s Midwinter Legislative Conference. While there wasn’t a lot of activity at the Capitol, there was plenty to discuss with your legislators. I hope each of you had the opportunity to meet with your legislators while you were in town to discuss the legislative issues most important to …
Continue reading “From the Executive Director – Week of February 5, 2024”