How your legislator’s voted

Here are  your District 9 representatives’ telephone contact numbers, gleaned from the Idaho Legislature membership website: Rep. Judy Boyle (208) 332-1064, (208) 355-3225; Rep. John Shirts (208) 332-1166, (208) 550-3190; and Sen. Brandon Shippy, the Statehouse number only (208) 332-1325. 

 

by Nancy Grindstaff

 At the Idaho Statehouse, by the end of Friday, Feb. 14, a total of 254 bills had been proposed in the House of Representatives, and another 111 in the Senate. The following bills and House or Senate resolutions saw action in one or both sides of the Legislature during the week of Feb. 10-14.

 The information provided in the Signal American’s weekly coverage will include only actions taken on bills or resolutions during the five-day period. Any bill previously reported on will again appear after follow-up action in the House or Senate is taken. 

 House Bill 14, Idaho Code Cleanup Act. Adds to existing law to establish the Idaho Code Cleanup Act. Shirts and Boyle both voted yes. Shippy voted yes. The bill was reported on Feb. 10 to have been signed into law by Gov. Brad Little on Feb. 7.

 HB26, a bill amending the Idaho ABLE Account Program to make the program to promote dignified personal independence and opportunities for Idahoans with disabilities less expensive. Passed 56-13-1 Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB38, updates the current Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act, clarifying factoring companies and factored transactions ineligible for coverage; adjusting coverage determinations for high-risk policies in relation to when an insurance company becomes insolvent; requiring health insurance Co-Ops created under the ACA to become members of the Idaho Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Assn.; and removes the annual $300 cap on association membership fees. Passed 46-23-1. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB50, increases the limit for delegation of public works projects from $300,000 to $500,000. Passed the house on Feb. 3, with Boyle and Shirts voting yes. Passed in the Senate on Feb. 11. Shippy, yes.

 HB52, increases the estimated project cost dollar limit in Public Works from $100,000 to $200,000, at which point the bid process changes from an informal bid to a formal written competitive bid process. Passed in the House Feb. 3. Boyle and Shirts, both yes. Passed in the Senate Feb. 11. Shippy, yes.

 HB53, updates the statute applied to claimants who commit unemployment insurance fraud. Passed in the House Feb. 11. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes. 

 HB54, amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding employment security laws, and to provide for certain administrative rules to be null, void, and of no force and effect. Passed the House on Feb. 11. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB56, increases the estimated project cost dollar limit in Public Works from $25,000 to $50,000 before requiring a written competitive bid process. Passed in the House Feb. 3, Boyle and Shirts both ayes. Passed in the Senate Feb. 11. Shippy, yes.

 HB59, the Medical Ethics Defense Act. Passed in the House Feb. 11, 58-11-1. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB80, Yellow Dot Motor Vehicle Medical Information Act. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB87, Prearranged funeral plans. Passed in the House Feb. 11. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB98, Floor sponsor, Boyle - prohibits public officials from allowing school district funds, personnel, and other resources to be used in support of teachers’ unions. Passed in the House Feb. 12, 40-29-0. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB104, Floor sponsor, Shirts - the bill creates a unified and singular definition for “agricultural buildings” across all local jurisdictions. Passed in the House Feb. 11. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB144, Taxation exempt small sellers. Passed in the House Feb. 12. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB172, Open Meetings Law. Passed in the House Feb. 13. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HB231, increases Idaho’s Grocery Tax Credit for all individuals to $155 starting in 2026. Passed in the House Feb. 14, 61-6-3. Boyle, nay. Shirts, aye.

 HR005, Rule approval State Police. Adopted in the House Feb. 11. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 HR006, Paige Nelson recognitioin. Adopted in the House Feb. 12, Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 SB1021, Floor sponsor, Shippy. Parent/Child relationship termination. Passed the Senate Feb. 11. Shippy, yes. 

 SB1025, as amended, the Education Choice & Competition Act, failed in the Senate on Feb. 14, 6-28-1. Shippy, nay.

 SB1026, Urban Agriculture amendment. Passed in the Senate 28-6-1 on Feb. 10. Shippy, nay.

 SB1032, Distraction-free learning. Passed in the Senate on Feb. 11. Shippy, yes.

 SB1035, Congregate care amendment. Passed in the Senate on Feb. 10. Shippy, yes.

 SCR102, authorizes the Legislative Council to appoint a committee to study the State of Idaho’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Adopted in the Senate on Jan. 22, 25-9-1. Shippy, yes. Adopted in the House on Feb. 10, 54-12-4. Boyle, yes. Shirts, yes.

 SCR103, Housing review committee. Adopted in the Senate on Feb. 10, 23-10-2. Shippy, yes.

 SR104, Agriculture Rules.  Adopted by voice vote on Feb. 10.