LEGISLATIVE UPDATE | WEEK TWO
January 13 - 17, 2025
It’s safe to say that the pace of things is picking up in the Statehouse. House and Senate committees are making progress on the review and approval of rules. The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee is immersed in the debate over agency budgets and revenue forecasts and has already set maintenance budgets. There has also been a steady – though not unmanageable – stream of proposed legislation flowing through committees and to the House floor.
While we are still waiting for some big-ticket items to emerge - think school vouchers/tax credits, tax relief, or health care and Medicaid changes – some new bills and familiar bills are worth bringing to your attention. The House Judicial, Rules, and Administration Committee sent to the House floor legislation setting a minimum fine of $300 for a first conviction for possession of three ounces of marijuana. Similar legislation that imposed a higher fine failed to pass last year.
We can report that some committees have been more active than others. The House and Senate Health and Welfare committees met over several days this week and reviewed and cleared more than 300 pages of rules. The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee has debated and sent five bills to the floor. House State Affairs introduced a bill that would give local law enforcement authority and a mandate to enforce federal immigration laws.
Speaker Mike Moyle introduced DOGE legislation requiring state agencies to review all relevant codes to determine whether statutes should be kept or scrapped. A review like this is in keeping with Gov. Little’s drive a few years ago to cut regulation and red tape and the push by the incoming Trump Administration and the new office led by Elon Musk to cut federal red tape and streamline the regulatory framework. With this bill, the Speaker is now seeking to take the next step in Idaho and codify the practice in code to mandate agencies to identify ways to make state government more efficient and less onerous.
We will not be surprised if, at some point, a mandate by the Legislature will come for local units of government. We also expect a lot of sections of code to be cut or partially deleted to further simplify and reduce the burden of government on citizens and businesses as the state continues to hold and defend the title of “the least regulated state” in America.
With the changes to the budget process last year, JFAC is ahead of schedule for the first time in years. Early this morning they set the maintenance budgets for agencies with massive spending, continued spending authority, cash transfers, and pages of intent language to guide the general services and basics of state government.
Next, the joint committee will undertake the long list of requested increases, changes and asks from the Governor and agencies as well and paying for any policies that pass this session.
At the end of week two, we are poised for the momentum to continue building next week. At this point, our take is that the mood under the dome remains positive. We’re also enjoying getting to know the freshmen legislators better. It’s funny how each class responds differently. Two years ago, the newbies were more insulated and guarded. Not so much with this group. And the sophomore class is much more comfortable this year as well. All legislators seem eager to solve problems and work through the process this year. Some are still trying to learn the ropes, rules, and rituals, but at this point, this legislature has proved to be a fun group of eager policymakers.
