IAC’S BLOG

This week, most of the IAC Legislative Committee members met in person at the IAC Washington Office. The committee received a progress report on the IAC Priorities and Policies for the session and also discussed potential new legislation coming down the pipe, including increasing the fee for Idaho State Park Passports, a Kilowatt Hour Tax, Solar Tax changes, increasing the fine for Drive Insured, and Domestic Water. Many committee members also seized the opportunity to meet with their legislators to ensure…

The IAC Legislative Committee met in person for the first time this year at IAC’s downtown policy office. Those who could not make the trip to Boise joined virtually.  The meeting started off with the approval of January 8th meeting minutes, followed by a dive into counties’ legislative priorities for the 2025 session. Members discussed public defense reform, youth vape prevention, consolidating elections, and more. Discussion wrapped with potential new legislation on the horizon.  Don Hall, Twin Falls County Commissioner and…

Written by John David Davidson, Blaine County Treasurer  It was an honor to represent the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) at the National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE) Presidents and Executives Meeting in Washington D.C. from January 8-10, 2025. The conference brought together county leaders from across the nation for a series of discussions, presentations, and events whose aim was to strengthen partnerships, explore leadership strategies, and engage on key policy topics that impact local governments. One of the major…

The Idaho Secretary of State’s office and the Idaho Association of County Recorders and Clerks (IACRC) held their annual election training conference at the Riverside Hotel from January 8–10, 2025. This year’s event provided attendees with cutting-edge insights into election trends, technologies, and hands-on training with election software, offering valuable resources to enhance their expertise. “Following a big presidential election year, the 2025 IACRC Elections Conference was a great chance for all of us to connect, share lessons learned, and gear…

This year, the 2024 election led to significant turnover in the capitol, so there are many new faces. With so many incoming freshmen, the session started slowly as they continued to learn the ropes. So far, only seven bills have been introduced in the House and none in the Senate, but this does not mean things are not happening behind the scenes. The IAC policy staff has been busy meeting with legislators to discuss IAC priorities and policies and to offer…

Today, Governor Brad Little delivered the annual State of the State address to kick off the Idaho legislative session. He touted Idaho’s “safe communities, bustling economic activity, increasing incomes, tax relief, fewer regulations, fiscal responsibility, and common-sense values.” He shared this year’s theme, “Keeping Promises.” He reminisced about past promises made to Idahoans for tax relief, including income and property tax cuts and an increased grocery tax rebate, and promised more tax cuts to come with a proposed round of another…

All six IAC Districts met over the past couple of months, and IAC staff were lucky enough to be in attendance at each meeting. District 1 Collaborates with Legislators District 1 invited their legislators to a Local Legislators’ Luncheon. Chair Ben Allen (Shoshone County Prosecutor) welcomed the group and provided background information about IAC and its purpose. He explained what District 1 does for their counties and local constituents as well as the goals of IAC for collaboration with state and…

The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) held their New Sheriffs School from December 9-13, 2024 in Boise, Idaho. This event brought together over 120 sheriffs, lieutenants, jail administrators, and over 55 companies supporting the show as corporate sponsors and exhibitors. All together, 43 out of Idaho’s 44 counties were represented, showcasing the strong commitment to collaboration and professional growth across the state. This unique five-day event is a state-mandated training for newly elected sheriffs, designed to provide essential knowledge, foster connections, and…

By Kathy Ackerman, NACo Board Representative and Idaho County Clerk  The County Crossroads Joint Symposium and National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors Meeting was held on December 4-7, 2024 in Sonoma County, California. This symposium brought together members of the Large Urban Caucus, the Rural Action Caucus, and the NACo Board of Directors. It provided an opportunity to experience Sonoma County through numerous mobile tours highlighting agriculture, emergency management/response, Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO), commercial fishing, and of course,…

Last week, the Idaho Association of County Assessors (IACA) gathered in Boise, Idaho for the 2024 Fall Meeting. This all-day event brought together 40 participants representing 32 counties to collaborate, share insights, and enhance their knowledge. Many attendees extended their stay in Boise to participate in the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho conference the following day.  The Fall Meeting featured a dynamic agenda, including a discussion with representatives from the Idaho State Tax Commission on software and technology support. Attendees also delved…

The newly seated Legislature was in town this week to elect leadership for the next two years, select committee chairs and vice chairs, and make committee appointments. In Idaho, majority party leadership and committee chairs have significant influence over legislative priorities, which bills are granted hearings, and the timing of hearings.  House leadership is as follows: Speaker of the House: Mike Moyle, District 10 (Ada and Canyon) House Majority Leader: Jason Monks, District 22 (Ada) House Assistant Majority Leader: Josh Tanner,…

The 2024 Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) Fall County Officials Institute (COI) successfully concluded after hosting three training sessions across the state in November. IAC staff traveled to Moscow, Pocatello, and Boise to provide incumbent and incoming county elected officials and staff with valuable insights into the roles and responsibilities of county officials, the organizational structure of county, state, and local government in Idaho, as well as the role of the legal advisor to county officials. “This fall’s COI saw outstanding…

If you’re passionate about county governance and want to help guide critical policy discussions in Idaho, now is the time to act. The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) is accepting applications for membership on up to two steering committees for the 2025 year. The deadline to sign up for currently elected county officials is December 31, 2024. For newly elected county officials, the deadline to sign up is February 1, 2025. Please keep in mind that county elected officials must sign…

Recently, county commissioners in Ada County and Twin Falls County demonstrated their proactive approach to understanding solid waste management. They organized educational tours of their waste facilities, aiming to improve public understanding of the county’s roles and responsibilities. Multiple legislators joined these tours, showing their commitment to ‘talking trash’ and delving into the intricacies of landfill operations. The Southern Idaho Facility Tour Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke invited incoming legislators to tour the Southern Idaho Solid Waste District’s Landfill facility…

The Idaho State Association of County Coroners (ISACC) held its 2024 Annual Conference from September 26 – 27 at the Oxford Suites in Boise, Idaho. This comprehensive training event gathered 43 elected county coroners and deputy coroners from 26 counties across the state, providing a valuable platform for networking and collaboration with peers and industry leaders.  ISACC President Pamela Garlock, Boise County Coroner, opened the event with a warm welcome and introductions. Following her remarks, Celena Shrum, Idaho’s Toxicology Discipline Lead,…

By Jessica Roth and Gracee Gorrell, IAC communications team The 2024 Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) Annual Conference was held at the Boise Centre from September 23-25, bringing together roughly 250 attendees and over 50 sponsors and exhibitors from around the country for presentations by engaging keynote speakers, discussions on county recommended legislative resolutions, professional development opportunities, and ample networking, including exclusive invite-only social events. The conference kicked off early Monday morning with the IAC Board Meeting, followed by the Intergovernmental…

Update provided by Link Up Idaho The Idaho Office of Broadband (IOB) and the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) are excited to share the following information with the State’s partners and stakeholders. Next IBAB Meeting: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. – noon MT.  Meeting details and agenda forthcoming. Idaho’s BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment) Initial Proposal Volume II was officially approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on Thursday, September 5, 2024.  Therefore, Idaho is now…

The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) hosted its 2024 Annual Conference in Downtown Boise this September. One of the many highlights of the event was the awards banquet to honor distinguished county elected officials. The Mills-Adler Award is given to officials from various affiliate associations for their dedication and significant contributions to their counties. The award is named in honor of two distinguished county elected officials: the late Darwin Mills, Lincoln County Sheriff, and the late Betty Adler, Payette County Treasurer….

During last week’s Installation Ceremony at the IAC Annual Conference, IAC appointed its new executive officers for 2024-2025. Blaine County Treasurer John David Davidson was installed as IAC President, Lemhi County Assessor Jenny Rosin was installed as 1st Vice President, Twin Falls County Clerk Kristina Glascock was installed as 2nd Vice President, and Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Vic Pearson was installed as Immediate Past President. Following the installation ceremony, John David Davidson honored Vic Pearson for his outstanding leadership over the…

The Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) hosted its annual bus tour earlier this week in Kellogg, Idaho. The yearly event rotates visiting a different district in the state each year. Local officials, design engineers, and contractors get to share with the council about the various projects toured. LHTAC council members Benewah County Commissioner Phil Lampert and Madison County Commissioner Todd Smith attended, representing the counties. The District 1 tour kicked off in Wallace, Idaho, with a complex bridge project connecting…