Current
Id
aho Mining Day at the Capitol
Idaho mines were on display on the 2nd Floor Rotunda as part of Mining Day at the Capitol.
Idaho has a rich history in mining, an abundant supply of rare earth minerals with strategic and economic value, PLUS large deposits of:
Gold Silver
Phosphate Copper
Antimony Cobalt
Idaho needs to support the development of extraction and processing of these gifts of nature.
JFAC approved the recommendation of the Change in Employee Compensation Committee (CEC) on Thursday. Affecting some 25,000 state employees, the recommendation provides a 1% across the board raise, a 2% merit-based raise based on performance and specific increases in areas where the state lagged behind the private sector making it difficult to attract applications.
Upcoming Millertime
I met with many of the county officials during the Association of Counties meeting. Those from Camas included Camas County Clerk Briana Walters who served as a page in the legislature!! Also, Camas County Treasurer Michelle Dalin was attending her first meeting.
I met with a number of Highway District officials during their meetings in Boise.
Twin Falls County Lincoln Day Event is coming on February 24 at Canyon Crest
Please let me know if you would like to host or schedule a town hall meeting.
If you plan to be at the Capitol, I would be happy to meet with you and help with whatever you need.
The Week
There has been much discussion regarding the formation and approving of maintenance budgets. (Link to Week 2) JFAC adopted the new procedure and passed 10 motions that contained the maintenance portion of nearly every budget that comes before JFAC. The next step is to budget the items for the next fiscal year. The passage of the CEC on Thursday enabled JFAC to schedule 14 budgets for Friday. The committee meets before the regular meeting to sort out the various motions and motion makers to reduce confusion so the regular meeting runs smoothly.
At 7:30 it was found that there were alternate motions for every budget being considered. The alternate motions included the maintenance portion as well as the budget for the next fiscal year (like what was done before the new procedure was adopted). Six Senators and 5 House members (2 absent & excused) voted to pass the alternate motions. These motions are incompatible with the previously passed motions because they both contain the maintenance budgets. It is very disappointing to witness Legislators who previously voted to adopt this procedure then voted to pass the maintenance budgets, then choose to blind side committee leadership and pass motions they knew were incompatible with their own previous votes. It was also disappointing that they chose to do this when House Co-Chair Wendy Horman was unable to attend the meeting. It is further disappointing that the Republican members joined with the Democrat members to get enough votes to accomplish the deed. In the old days, they would have been removed from the committee. We’ll see what happens.
House Session & Votes
There was a good deal of debate on H406 fentanyl mandatory sentencing and H415 school carry bills but they both passed handily. Several school districts are planning or implementing training programs in concert with the existing statute that gives them the authority to allow employees to carry. H415 needs some language that allows school districts to implement training programs. If the Senate doesn’t amend it there should be a trailer bill to make a few adjustments.
A full list of bills may be found at: Bill List
The House Session may be viewed live at: House Session
Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC)
The committee heard 17 budget requests this week. They included Lands, Parks & Rec, F&G, medical residencies, Department of Insurance and the Idaho State Lottery.
Budget hearing and setting schedules may be viewed at: Budget Schedules
JFAC agendas may be viewed at: JFAC Agendas
The JFAC meetings may be viewed live at: View JFAC
Transportation and Defense Committee
The committee sent 3 bills to the House floor:
- H412 regarding motion sensors for weight, axel spread, length and check license at several of the busiest Idaho ports.
- H413 License plates don’t have to be changed every 10 years if they are still readable.
- H414 Commercial driver licenses will save $5 if renewed online. Licenses renewed after the first of the year will be valid for 8 years instead of 4.
Transportation meetings may be viewed live at: View Transportation
Commerce and Human Resources Committee
The committee sent 6 bills to the floor:
- H428 reducing the fund multiplier from 1.3 to 1.2 saving taxpayers about $44 million next year.
- H429 revises the option of purchasing 48 months of service.
- H430 revises disability of school employees
- H431 revises PERSI contributions
- H432 revises confidential records.
Commerce meetings may be viewed live at: View Commerce
Bill Highlights
Bill # Topic Vote
H390 Conflict of city officials 54-15-1
H406 Fentanyl mandatory sentencing 55-13-2
H415 Concealed carry on school property 53-16-1
H422 Charters school update 66-3-1
H402 Removed language regarding Class II oil and gas injection wells 65-4-1
H404 Prevent bad actors from herding collared animals 56-12-2
H410 revises law regarding income earned by Indians 69-0-1
You may view the full list of bills at and the bill status at: Bill List
It is an honor to serve as your Representative in the Idaho House of Representatives. Please forward this update to anyone you feel would be interested in receiving it.
Representative Steven Miller
Idaho State Capitol
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038
SMiller@house.idaho.gov
Common Sense Solutions 