IAC Legislative Committee Sets 2020 Priorities

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) Legislative Committee met on Tuesday, October 29 to set priorities for the upcoming 2020 Legislative Session. The Committee considered 18 proposals. After vigorous discussion based on needs of the counties and feasibility, the county elected officials narrowed down the list to the following eight priorities:

• Maintenance of county roads/easements on Idaho Public Lands
• Collection of certain miscellaneous fees in Odyssey
• Pretrial Release Supervision of Juveniles
• Homeowners Exemption Indexed
• Standard of Review for local Government under Administrative Procedure Act
• Changing Write-in Deadline to 7^th Friday prior to Election
• Clarification of Whistleblower Act
• Increase County Assessor Share of Title Fees ($3 to $7).

The Legislative Committee also agreed to support the following public policy:

• Local Option Tax for County Jails
• Security of Ballots
• Brokered CD’s
• Uncontested City Elections-Election Canceled
• Marriage License Clarification
• Circuit Breaker Increase

IAC Director Seth Grigg also gave the Legislative Committee the latest updates on Medicaid Expansion and the Property Tax Working Group. Grigg shared, “These two issues are going to be the toughest issues we face this session. We will need to have all hands on deck including extensive outreach by county officials to their local legislators.”

Committee Chair Justin Baldwin expressed his appreciation to the legislative committee for their commitment to working on these issues that are so important to counties across Idaho.