IAC’S BLOG

The legislative session, which may conclude within the next couple of weeks, is a critical period for us. Despite being in the final stretch, we are diligently monitoring several significant issues that could affect counties. Transportation Funding Earlier this week, the Joint Finance Appropriation Committee made a decision that could significantly impact us. They set the funding for ITD’s Strategic Initiatives Program at a lower level than the past two years. The Governor’s recommendation to increase Strategic initiatives to $311M this…

The legislature has moved very quickly this week, except when it comes to budgets. Multiple budgets were voted down this week in the Senate and the House, putting the Joint Finance Appropriation Committee a couple of weeks behind its original budget-setting goals. The Idaho Constitution requires a balanced budget to be set before the legislature may adjourn. If the legislature continues at the current rate, it will still be in session in April instead of finishing up on its original target…

There are ongoing discussions in the Legislature about cutting $50 million from the Governor’s proposed budget for state and local highway maintenance. If advanced, it would result in a loss of $21 million in local road funding through the highway distribution account. IAC is concerned that this is the first step in further general fund reductions in funding for local highway maintenance. Click here for an estimated revenue loss for your county. Please reach out to your legislators and voice your…

Written by Kathy Ackerman, NACo Board Representative and Idaho County Clerk  The 2025 NACo Legislative Conference is a wrap! Idaho had great, diverse representation with our delegation from counties across the state, including Ada, Bannock, Blaine, Custer, Idaho, Latah, Lemhi, Power, Twin Falls, and Valley counties. We were also joined by Seth Grigg, Sara Westbrook and Kristin Cundiff from IAC. We made a great team, working to learn and advocate for Idaho and Idaho counties. Key speakers for the conference included…

The IAC Legislative Committee met in person on February 26th 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 February 19th minutes, followed by an update on current IAC priorities. Committee members discussed several bills relating to public notices, consolidated elections, tourism tax, public defense reform, and more. Discussion wrapped up with potential new legislation on the horizon.  Don Hall, Twin Falls County Commissioner and chair…

State of Play We’re now about two-thirds of the way through the 2025 Idaho Legislative Session, and things are moving quickly. Bills are often advancing through committees and floor debates at a fast clip. The Idaho Association of Counties remains fully engaged, advocating for all five IAC legislative priorities alongside several policies. With crossover deadlines looming (Monday, March 3rd is the target for bills to be transmitted to the other legislative body), IAC is working hard to ensure that our priorities…

As the legislative session progresses, three IAC Priorities continue to move forward. Below are critical updates and action items for the upcoming week. House Bill 166 – Public Notices Passes the House  House Bill 166, which modernizes public notice requirements by allowing notices to be published on the state’s website, passed the House by a razor-thin margin. This was a hard-fought win. Thank you to everyone who reached out to their legislators. Please reach out to legislators who voted YES to…

This week, we saw movement on two of our priorities. House Bill 211, which would simplify the e911 payment process and expand the permitted use of the county fee was introduced in the House Local Government Committee. House Bill 166 on Public Notices made it out of the House State Affairs Committee on an 8-7 vote. Now is the time to engage on these issues and let legislators know why these issues matter to counties, your constituents, and the legislature as…

As the Idaho Legislative Session progresses, several bills and policy discussions are shaping the future for counties across the state. Here’s a breakdown of the latest developments and how they impact county governments. Top Priorities: – Public Notices (H0166) – A revised version was introduced this week. This new version would allow local governments to publish a shortened notice with a link to their website to the full notice. Then in 2027, local governments would be allowed to publish notices on…

By: Chase Youngdahl, Bonner County Noxious Weed Superintendent & IANWCS Secretary The Idaho Association of Noxious Weed Control Superintendents (IANWCS) held its annual membership meeting in the Treasure Valley on January 27-28. Day one kicked off at the Canyon County Administration Building, where members heard presentations on a number of industry related topics including pollinator awareness, risk management, pesticide licensing, Ag rulemaking updates, state & county noxious weed program updates, as well as a panel discussion to collaborate, share insights, and…

By Jessica Roth, IAC Communications & Marketing Manager The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) held its 2025 Midwinter Legislative Conference at the Boise Centre from January 27 – 30. The association’s premier event hosted the largest gathering of Idaho’s county commissioners in the state as well as county treasurers, assessors, clerks, prosecuting attorneys, sheriffs, and coroners, with representation from all 44 Idaho counties. IAC’s event had an impressive turnout drawing over 300 attendees, 43 collective sponsors and exhibitors, a world-renowned keynote…

This week has been a whirlwind—in the best way possible! Thank you to everyone who came to Boise for the Midwinter Legislative Conference. There were so many highlights, but one that stands out is hosting nearly 200 county officials at the Capitol. It was a proud moment to walk the halls with so many county friends, sharing fun facts—like why I never “cross the seal.” When we asked you to meet with your legislators and advocate for IAC’s priorities, you delivered….

Now that we are a few weeks into the legislative session, we have a better understanding of the varying goals and priorities of leadership in the House and Senate. This insight led to a robust strategic discussion at the IAC Legislative Committee meeting on Wednesday. The committee chose to adjust some of IAC’s priorities to ensure the most successful outcomes. Please keep in mind that even if a policy is no longer considered an official priority of IAC, this does not…

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.  “The Legislative Committee remains highly dedicated to…

Written by John David Davidson, IAC President and 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…

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…