Representative Steve Miller
Town Hall Update
February 23, 2025
LD 24 legislators Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld, Representative Clint Hostetler and myself participated in 6 town hall meetings beginning in Gooding moving on to Hagerman, Buhl, Filer, Kimberly and Hansen. Each meeting was well attended. Many thanks to Mayors Diane House, Jared Hillier, Pam McClain, Bob Templeman, Burke Davidson, and Todd Stimpson for providing space or getting us connected to others. Thanks to Filer Library, Kimberly Superintendent Luke Schroder and Hansen Superintendent Angie Campbell for allowing use of their facilities.
The more emotional issues were H93 education choice and H138 Medicaid waivers. There are differing viewpoints, errant assumptions and misinformation about both issues.
Ed Choice
The primary objections to Ed choice were potential damage to rural schools and the assumption that the $50 million the Governor tagged for school choice would affect or reduce the K-12 budget. The budget question is easy to answer. It doesn’t affect the K-12 budget. Ed choice is a new program in the same way that Launch was a new program, each with its own funding stream independent of K-12 funding. Actually, the rapid growth of Health & Welfare Medicaid budgets have more potential impact on education and public safety budgets.
Regarding rural schools, I think the vast majority of parents are happy with their school.
One comment was that as the ed choice student moves out it will leave special ed and lower performing students in the schools, hence test results will be lower for public schools. Thirty percent of the K-12 student population already attend alternative ed such as charters, private schools, home school and other educational systems. I believe the conclusion might be that it is happening already.
There is concern that the cost of Ed Choice will explode like it has in other states. This bill has a $50 million dollar cap. That can only be changed by legislative approval.
H138 Medicaid Waivers
There were many concerns about different groups of people losing Medicaid coverage. The only group affected by this bill are childless able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64 who are not caretakers. An able bodied adult is a person who is healthy and not receiving disability benefits with incomes up to 138% of poverty level ( 1 person $20,345, 2- $27,495, 3- 34,645, family of 4- $41,795). Of this group, 52% are not working. The bill would require working 20 hours per week. It also required H&W to reduce mis-payments (payments that shouldn’t have been made or higher than it should have been) from 18% to 5%, applicant to re-apply for eligibility every 6 months, limit presumptive eligibility (except pregnancy), place a 3-year limit of eligibility and limit the number to 50,000 people.
H345 is replacement for H138 that removed the50,000 cap, 3 year eligibility, provided for 20 hours per week work or public service or education.
Other issues were school district transportation and K-12 funding which are currently being addressed in JFAC (Joint Finance Appropriation Committee).
We intend to do another set of Townhalls later in March. I hope to see you there!!
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
District 24B
Camas, Gooding, and Rural Twin Falls Counties
Idaho State Capitol
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038
208-332-1061
SMiller@house.idaho.gov
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