Rebuttal Phase of the State’s BEAD Challenge Process Now Open

By Ramón S. Hobdey-Sánchez, J.D. State Broadband Program Manager The Idaho Office of Broadband (IOB) is excited to announce the opening of the next phase of the State’s BEAD Challenge Process. The Rebuttal Phase will begin Friday, July 19, 2024. Link Up Idaho has multiple resources and tools to assist stakeholders with navigating this process and …

IAC Announces 2024 Scholarship Award Recipients

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) has named the 2024 recipients of the IAC Scholarship. After a competitive review process, seven students from across the state of Idaho were selected from a pool of 45 applicants to each receive a $1,000 scholarship from the IAC Scholarship Fund. Award Recipients: – Eloise Shelton, Senior, Clark Fork …

Board of Canvassers Certify Idaho Primary Election Results

The Idaho Association of Commissioners and Clerks (IACC) met in Idaho Falls this week for their Annual Conference. During the event, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane, Idaho State Controller Brandon Woolf, and Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth met with county clerks to canvass election results for the 2024 Idaho Primary Election. The purpose of …

Idaho County Members Visit California for 2024 WIR Conference

By Steve Smith, Custer County Commissioner County elected officials and staff from Idaho ventured to Mariposa County, California, to participate in the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference. The event, held May 7 – 10 at the Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite National Park, brought together county officials from across the …

2024 IAC Salary & Benefits Survey Now Available

The 2024 IAC Salary and Benefits Survey is now available for electronic download. IAC surveyed all 44 counties and a total of 40 counties participated in this year’s survey. The electronic survey is available in an excel spreadsheet so that our members can use the data how they see fit. If you find any errors, …

From the Executive Director – Week of April 8, 2024

The Idaho Legislature recessed for five legislative days on Thursday, April 4th after passing a key appropriation bill for the Idaho Department of Transportation. The Legislature will return to Boise on Wednesday, April 10th to wrap up its work for the year and adjourn sine die. Passage of House Bill 770 ensures that counties and …

From the Executive Director – Week of April 1, 2024

As the 2024 Legislative Session likely wraps up this week, a key appropriation bill funding state and local highways is still pending. House Bill 723 has thus far failed to advance through the Legislature. The appropriation bill narrowly passed the House on March 20th on a 35-34-1 vote. It subsequently failed on the Senate Floor …

From the Executive Director – Week of March 25, 2024

Late Action on IAC Legislative Priorities Early this morning, Senate Bill 1403, modernizing Idaho’s area of city impact law, passed the House on a 69-1 vote. The bill previously passed the Senate and now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Senate Bill 1403 was adopted by the IAC membership in September as one …

BLM Proposes Stronger Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plans

By BLM Press The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing a draft plan to strengthen greater sage-grouse conservation and management on public lands, informed by the best-available science and input from local, state, federal, and Tribal partners. The draft plan is built on decades of partnership, research, and on-the-ground knowledge and experience in maintaining, …

From the Executive Director – Week of March 18, 2024

House Ways & Means Committee Introduces New Assessment Burden of Proof Legislation On Friday, March 15th, the House Ways & Means Committee introduced House Bill 717. House Bill 717 is a mashup of House Bill 701 and House Bill 625. House Bill 701 is sponsored by Representative Ned Burns and seeks to codify a uniform …