IAC Legislative Committee Meeting Recap – February 11th, 2026
The IAC Legislative Committee met in-person for the second time this legislative session on February 11th, 2026 at IAC’s downtown office. Those unable to attend in-person attended virtually. After the approval of the February 4th, 2026 minutes, discussion of legislation impacting county operations was underway. Many topics were discussed, ranging from fiscal transparency and public …
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Legislative Alert – State Inmates
IAC Priority Legislation on State Inmate Jail Reimbursements to be Heard Tuesday On Tuesday, February 17th at 1:30pm MST/12:30pm PST, the House Judiciary and Rules Committee will have under consideration House Bill 556. House Bill 556 proposes increasing the daily reimbursement rate paid by the Idaho Department of Corrections to counties for housing state-committed inmates …
What to Watch: Week 5
State Inmates in County Jails: Action Needed This Week One of the Idaho Association of Counties’ (IAC) legislative priorities gained visibility during last Friday’s Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee (JFAC) meeting, signaling growing legislative attention to the issue of state inmates housed in county jails. During the meeting, JFAC Co-Chair Representative Tanner referenced whether or not the …
2026 IAC Midwinter Conference: Recap
The 2026 IAC Midwinter Legislative Conference provided a timely and productive forum for Idaho’s counties to engage on policy, budgets, and the future of county government. With 43 of Idaho’s 44 counties represented and more than 315 county elected officials, department leaders, deputies, and staff in attendance, counties made a strong and unified presence at …
What to Watch: Week 4
A number of bills were introduced last week, so things are starting to pick up on the House side. Not many bills have been introduced on the Senate side yet. The main issue that we are continuing to track is the state budget. Today, the House Revenue & Taxation Committee, through a party-line vote, sent …
What to Watch: Week 3
What to Watch: Week 3 This week, we are excited to welcome county officials to the 2026 IAC Midwinter Legislative Conference. Things are heating up in the Capitol with multiple bills that may impact counties scheduled for introductory hearings in the House and Senate Committees. This afternoon alone, there are at least four different committees …
What to Watch: Week 2
Week 2 has begun slowly, mirroring the pace of the previous week. However, we anticipate increased activity as the week progresses. Currently, IAC is tracking five bills, four of which relate to public safety. For more information on each bill, please consult the IAC Bill Tracker. The fifth bill, Senate Bill 1222, is a clean-up …
Governor Gives 2026 State of the State Address: A Few County Issues Mentioned
While only a few county issues were mentioned, those issues could have significant impacts on county budgets. Governor Little’s State of the State address clocked in at just under 29 minutes with a theme of “Enduring Idaho.” The speech mainly focused on plans to balance the state budget while still fully conforming to the One …
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What to Watch in Week One
The 2026 Idaho Legislative Session begins with significant organizational shifts due to recent resignations and retirements. Three of these resignations (Reps. Andrus, Clow, and Horman) created committee chair vacancies. To fill those vacancies, Speaker Moyle appointed Rep. Josh Tanner (District 14) to co-chair JFAC (House Appropriations, replacing Rep. Horman); Rep. Raymond (District 31) replaces Rep. …
New IAC Legislative Committee Chair and Vice Chair for the 2026 Legislative Session
Twin Falls County Commissioner and IAC Legislative Committee Chair Don Hall was recently appointed to the Idaho Legislature. His resignation created a vacancy for the IAC Legislative Chair and Vice Chair positions. “We commend Commissioner Hall for his steadfast dedication to ensuring that county perspectives were acknowledged, considered, and professionally and effectively advocated for during …