IAC Legislative Committee Sets 2023 Priorities

Last Wednesday, the IAC Legislative Committee met in Boise to set priorities for the upcoming legislative committee. The membership approved sixteen legislative resolutions at the IAC Annual Conference. IAC Affiliates agreed to take the lead on seven resolutions, leaving nine for the legislative committee to consider for prioritization. After a robust, thorough discussion regarding all …

IAC Steering Committees: What to Expect at 2022 Annual Conference

The upcoming IAC Annual Conference agenda is packed with quality content and the IAC committee agendas are no exception. If you did not sign up for a 2022 steering committee, that’s okay; IAC members are still welcome to attend all committee meetings. This year during the committee meetings, we will pass around a sign-up sheet …

Idaho Broadband Advisory Release Strategic Plan

The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) has finalized a statewide strategic plan for structuring, prioritizing, and dispensing grants from the Idaho Broadband Fund. IBAB aims to serve 100% of Idaho businesses and homes with broadband speeds of at least 100 megabits per second minimum for download and 20 megabits per second for upload speed by …

Broadband Speed-Testing Grant Opportunity for Idaho Counties

Many, if not all, of the counties in Idaho are looking for ways to enhance broadband coverage. There are some great opportunities available right now through the use of ARPA dollars, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL), as well as state funding that has been set aside (both ARPA funds and state funds without federal strings …

Gov. Little’s Signing of H735 Provides Historic Public Defense Funding & Ongoing Property Tax Relief

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) applauds Legislative Leaders and Governor Little for taking bold action on public defense reform by passing House Bill 735. “House Bill 735 provides historic reform regarding how public defense is funded,” says Seth Grigg, IAC Executive Director. “Instead of counties footing the bill using property tax dollars, state sales …

What to Watch: Week of March 21

This week will likely be the final week of the 2022 Legislative Session. Even though we are in the home stretch, IAC is still monitoring around a dozen bills. The bills highlighted below are still alive and need IAC members to be actively engaged, particularly with the Senate and in the case of one bill, …

What to Watch: Week of March 14

This week we encourage IAC members to reach out to your Senators to express support for House Bill 735, the public defense spending bill and to keep an eye on the appropriation bills to determine whether or not the legislature will adjourn soon. Public Defense Funding House Bill 735, sponsored by Representatives Jon Weber (District …

What to Watch: Week of March 7

Multiple Bills Significantly Impacting Counties Up this Week In addition to the property tax/sales tax replacement bill House Bill 741 which we have been tracking closely, many other key bills affecting counties will likely be on the move this week. Three of the bills mentioned below could provide property tax relief while still keeping counties …

What to Watch: Week of February 21

Special IAC Member Meeting on Property Tax Replacement Proposal this Week Leaders in the House and Senate are focusing in on a proposal to increase the state sales tax to 7.95%, dedicating the increase to expand the grocery tax credit and provide property tax relief for owner-occupied homes. Under the proposal, anyone receiving the homestead …

What to Watch: Week of February 14

Behavioral Health & Transportation in Committees This Week The Senate Health and Welfare Committee scheduled for 3:00 p.m. MST today will hold a print hearing on RS29526 related to Civil Commitments. The civil commitment proposal adjusts the responsibility for the costs for involuntary commitments. With HB316 from the last session, there were unintended cost shifts …