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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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IAC Priorities Need Member Engagement to Push Across the Finish Line
IAC still has priorities pending in the legislature. We need significant engagement from our members to get these bills over the finish line. Essential, Sustainable EMS System Senate Bill 1416, which would help create a more sustainable EMS system, passed the Senate last week on a 26-9 vote. We expected the bill to be routed …
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Outreach and Engagement Needed on Two IAC Legislative Priorities
While many things are beginning to wind down in the legislature, this week is an important week for IAC. We hope to see positive movement on two of the Idaho Association of Counties’ (IAC) legislative priorities, Area of Impact and EMS Sustainability. The Area of Impact legislation (Senate Bill 1403) will likely be heard in …
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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, …
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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 …
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From the Executive Director – Week of March 11, 2024
House Introduces Legislation to Tax Rate Regulated Utilities Based on Kilowatt Hours Sold The House Revenue and Taxation Committee introduced legislation last week to exempt the real and personal property of rate regulated electric utility companies from taxation. In lieu of paying property taxes, the three electric companies (Avista, Idaho Power, and Rocky Mountain Power) …
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BEAD Regional Coordination and Planning Grant Now Open
By Cody Allred, Idaho Commerce The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) and the Idaho Office of Broadband are now accepting grant applications for the Idaho Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Regional Coordination and Planning Grant. The Board approved $500,000 for broadband planning funds to be used to establish a Broadband Action Team and additional …
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Updates on Bills Monitored by IAC – Week of March 4, 2024
This morning, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee heard House Bill 625, which would shift the burden of proof from the property owner to the county assessor during Board of Equalizations (BOE) assessment hearings. Hollie Ann Strang (Gem County Assessor), Brian Stender (Canyon County Assessor), Josh Dison (Elmore County Assessor), and Justin Baldwin (Gooding County …
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