From the Executive Director: Week of February 20, 2023

  Halfway into the Session, Still No Consensus on Property Tax Relief As the Legislature approaches the halfway mark of the 2023 Legislative Session, there still isn’t consensus on property tax relief legislation. Both the House and Senate have been working seemingly nonstop since the session began to find a fix to rising residential property …

Idaho County Officials Travel to DC for 2023 NACo Legislative Conference

By Kathy Ackerman, Idaho County Clerk The National Association of Counties (NACo) held their 2023 Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton in DC from February 11-14. As your NACo Board Representative, here are a few key takeaways from this year’s conference: Idaho was well-represented at the conference by Seth Grigg, IAC Executive Director; Commissioners Tom …

2023 IAC Executive Board Members Sworn in at Midwinter Legislative Conference

IAC recently held its installation ceremony for the organization’s board of directors at the 2023 IAC Midwinter Legislative Conference at the Riverside Hotel in Boise. Chris Goetz, Clearwater County Sheriff, held his position as Immediate Past President, while Vic Pearson, Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney, accepted his new role of IAC President. Blaine County Treasurer John …

What to Watch: Week of February 13, 2023

Monday was the deadline for bills to be introduced in Idaho’s Legislature, so we should see things slow down a bit regarding new bill introductory hearings. IAC is currently tracking around 70 bills, and information about them can be found on the IAC Bill Tracker. The tracker is an excellent resource for members to understand …

From the Executive Director: Week of February 13, 2023

Bill Introduction Deadline in Rearview Mirror As we enter week six of the 2023 Legislative Session, the legislature is slowly picking up the pace of bill introductions. Friday marked the last day of bill introductions for non-privileged committees. With the passing of the bill introduction deadline, I researched bill introductions through the first five weeks …

What to Watch: Week of February 6, 2023

Last week, three IAC policies (S1034 on Court fee deadlines; S1035 Court fees, change of venues; and S1041 on County Treasurer Investments) and two IAC priorities (H0070 revisions to CAT fund repeal and H0085 DMV title administration fees) were introduced in the House or Senate. This week, we expect to see movement on these bills and a newly introduced resolution (SCR101 Emergency medical services, …

From the Executive Director: Week of February 6, 2023

I’d like to start by thanking all of Idaho’s county elected officials and county staff who attended last week’s IAC Midwinter Legislative Conference. Turnout from the membership was strong making for a successful event. I hope each of you had an opportunity to tour the Capitol, sit in on committee meetings, and meet with your …

What to Watch: Week of January 30, 2023

This week will be busy in the statehouse as we gather for IAC’s Midwinter Legislative Conference. The wheels of government in the Legislature are beginning to turn, so we should see multiple IAC policies along with two IAC priorities receive introductory hearings before the week is over. Legislative committees use introductory hearings to determine whether …

From the Executive Director: Week of January 23, 2023

Property Taxes, Property Taxes, Property Taxes Everyone in the Capitol is talking about property taxes, leading to a sense of urgency to finally address rising property taxes. While in previous years budget caps have been the primary means of attempting to control rising property taxes, legislators this year appear to be focusing on more targeted …

Boise State Releases 2023 Annual Public Policy Survey

Last week, Boise State University released the 2023 Idaho Public Policy Survey. This statewide annual survey focuses on various issues of particular importance to counties, including Taxes and Budget, Growth Housing & Economics, and Crime. The survey includes a dashboard that allows for a deeper dive into the data, including regionally capturing the data. Some …