Legislators working hard, debating issues
It has been a busy last few weeks and bills are moving rapidly through the House and Senate. This makes for long days and evenings studying bills, which is necessary to do in order to make the best decisions possible.
The House has been meeting two times a day in order to keep up with the large number of bills needing our attention. The hopes of being adjourned by March 27 as planned have come and gone. The latest revised schedule appears to extend through the second week of April.
Bill topics that have been introduced to the House floor in the last few weeks have included the sharing of immunization registration for children (passed 37-33), a gun bill (HB 301) to clean up language and extend permit less carry outside of city limits (passed 57-7), and a school bullying bill (HB 246) that expanded the defined groups and defined sharing requirements and professional development of public educators on the requirements (passed 51-18).
A bill to end pari-mutuel horseracing in Idaho (SB1011) passed on a 49-21 vote. Many people showed up in the gallery that day to watch the hour and a half of passionate testimony.
A parental right bill, a direct primary care bill, an eminent domain bill and as well as many appropriation bills were also passed through the House toward finalization as laws.
A bill passed making the Idaho Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon aterrimus) our new state amphibian. There was also a resolution to enter into a land compact with other states interested in transferring state lands back to local management and control. This resolution died in the Senate Resource & Environment Committee.
A tax restructuring bill passed the House which would have ended the grocery tax for all, lowered the income tax for the majority of Idaho citizens and raised the tax on gasoline 7 cents. Overall the bill would have resulted in a net tax decrease for the majority of individuals. Removing the grocery tax would have been a huge benefit to all citizens, especially the poor. Unfortunately this bill was killed by the Senate as well.
I am proud to have provided testimony to help defeat a fingerprint bill (HB1033aa) which would have retained fingerprints of citizens and allowed law enforcement to notify employers of an arrest, even if the citizen was not charged. This is not how freedom should be treated in Idaho or the rest of our country. Finally, a resolution to recognize and congratulate Boundary County and its residents on its centennial anniversary was passed.
Next week will likely bring more contentious bill debates including a gas tax increase and a bill to allow seizure victims to use cannabidiol oil.
I hope all is well in Bonner and Boundary counties and I look forward to returning home soon. Happy Easter!
Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, serves legislative District 1A in the Idaho Legislature. She can be reached at hscott@house.idaho.gov.