The legislative session came to a close on March 29th after nearly 3 months. There were several highs and lows throughout the session and many hot-button issues came to the forefront in Idaho politics and law. Several initiatives that would have improved life in Idaho failed to pass including the Idaho State-Owned Bank and Cyberbullying law, while some strides forward were made in reinstituting Medicaid funding and banning texting while driving.
In the last day of the session, tax cuts were approved for top earners and corporations in Idaho with little attention given to job creation and preservation of the middle class.
If you have not done so already, email your legislators and give them your thoughts on this session. Your district and email addresses can be found legislature.idaho.gov.
Please be on the look out in the coming weeks for an election update for the May 15th primary.
HOUSE
House Bill 426 by Education Committee
8 in 6 Program
1/27/12 Introduction, 1st Reading, Printing
1/30/12 Report Printed, to Education
2/7/12 Report Out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
2/8/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
2/9/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 58-12-0
2/10/12 Senate Introduction, 1st Reading, to Education
3/8/12 Report out, to 14th Ord
3/14/12 Report out amended, 1st Reading as amended, to 2nd Reading as amended
3/15/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading as amended
3/19/12 3rd Reading as amended, PASSED 28-7-0
3/20/12 Held at House Desk
3/21/12 House concurred in amendments, to engross
3/22/12 Report engrossed, 1st Reading, to 2nd Reading as amended
3/23/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading as amended, rules suspended, PASSED 59-6-5
3/26/12 Report enrolled, Speaker signed, President Signed
3/27/12 To Governor
Provides for Idaho Dept of Education to pay up to $250 per overage and summer courses for high school students to complete college credits. Will include provision for professional and technical training to be included.
Social Work Speaks addresses this issue in the section Education of Children and Youths. NASW holds that “transitional experiences and entry structures should be available throughout the educational ladder…High Schools should assist all students who are preparing for post-secondary education”.
House Bill 563 by Revenue and Taxation Committee
Income Taxation
2/17/12 Introduction, 1st Reading, to Printing
2/20/12 Report printed, to Revenue and Taxation
2/28/12 Report out, Received Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
2/29/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/1/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 49-20-1
3/2/12 Senate introduction, 1st Reading, to Local Government
3/29/12 Report out, recommended do pass, to 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading, Rules suspended, PASSED 28-7-0, speaker signed, president signed
Reduces individual income tax rate for Idaho taxable income over $7500 to 7.4% and reduces the corporate income tax rate to 7.4%.
House Bill 609 by State Affairs Committee
Public Assistance Law
2/29/12 Introduction, 1st Reading, to Printing
3/1/12 Report printed, to Health and Welfare
3/7/12 Report out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/8/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading, Rules Suspended, PASSED 65-0-5
3/9/12 Senate introduction, 1st Reading, to Health and Welfare
3/15/12 Report out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/16/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/20/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 35-0-0
3/21/12 To engross
3/22/12 Report enrolled, Speaker signed, President signed
3/23/12 To Governor
3/29/12 Governor signed
Restores some of the funding cut from Medicaid during the 2011 Legislative Session. This would restore dental services and dual diagnosed treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses.
SENATE
Senate Concurrent Resolution 110/112 by Health and Welfare Committee
Endorsement of Alzheimer’s Planning Group
1/18/12 Introduction, 1st Reading, Printing
1/19/12 Referred to Health and Welfare
2/16/12 Report out, received do pass, to 10th Ordinance
2/20/12 10th Ordinance, ADOPTED by voice vote
2/21/12 House introduction, 1st Reading, to Health and Welfare
3/9/12 Report out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/12/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/21/12 3rd Reading, ADOPTED 61-0-9
3/22/12 Report enrolled, President signed
3/23/12 Speaker signed
3/26/12 To Secretary of State
Endorses statewide plan for Alzheimer’s Planning Group to research and create comprehensive approach to treatment, awareness, and implementation efforts with agencies to address issues related to Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Social Work Speaks addresses this issue in the section titled Aging and Wellness. NASW supports “additional governmental and foundation funding for research, profession publications, and communication of best practices in gerontological social work”.
Senate Bill 1274 by Transportation Committee
Texting and Driving
2/1/12 Introduction, 1st Reading, to Printing
2/2/12 Report printed, to Transportation
2/15/12 Report out, Received Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
2/16/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
2/21/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 29-6-0
2/22/12 House introduction, 1st Reading, Held at Desk
2/23/12 Referred to Transportation
2/29/12 Report out, to Gen Ord
3/2/12 Report out amended, to 1st Reading as amended
3/5/12 1st Reading, to 2nd Reading as amended
3/6/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading as amended
3/20/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 53-17-0
3/21/12 To 10th Ord, 1st Reading as amended, to 2nd Reading as amended
3/22/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading as amended
3/23/12 3rd Reading as amended, PASSED 29-5-1
3/26/12 Report enrolled, President Signed
3/27/12 Speaker signed
3/28/12 To Governor
Provides for infractions for texting while driving in Idaho.
Senate Bill 1326 by Health and Welfare Committee
Vocational Rehabilitation
2/13/12 Introduction, 1st Reading, to printing
2/14/12 Report printed, to Health and Welfare
2/28/12 Report out, Received Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
2/29/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/2/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 33-0-2
3/5/12 House introduction, 1st Reading, to Health and Welfare
3/15/12 Report out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/16/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/21/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 53-12-5
3/22/12 Report enrolled, President signed
3/23/12 Speaker signed
3/26/12 To Governor
Provides termination date for end-stage renal disease support through vocational rehabilitation.
Senate Bill 1337 by Judiciary and Rules Committee
Sexual Exploitation of a Child
2/21/12 Introduction, 1st Reading, to printing
2/22/12 Report printed, to Judiciary
3/1/12 Report out, to 14th Ord
3/5/12 Report out amended, to engross, report engross, 1st reading, to 2nd reading as amended
3/6/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading as amended, rules suspended, PASSED 31-0-4
3/8/12 House introduction, 1st Reading, to Judiciary
3/14/12 Report out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/15/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/21/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 69-0-1
3/22/12 Report enrolled, President signed
3/23/12 Speaker signed
3/26/12 To Governor
Expands current law to include advancements in technology and crimes that can be committed against a child through the internet.
Senate Bill 1338 by Judiciary and Rules Committee
Enticing a Child
2/21/12 Introduction, 1st Reading, to printing
2/22/12 Report printed, to Judiciary
3/1/12 Report out, Received Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/2/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/5/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 35-0-0
3/6/12 House introduction, 1st Reading, to Judiciary
3/8/12 Report out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/9/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/21/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 63-2-5
3/22/12 Report enrolled, President signed
3/23/12 Speaker signed
3/26/23 To Governor
Expands current law to include provisions for prosecution of criminal acts relating to enticing a child through the internet or other communication device.
Senate Bill 1341 by Judiciary and Rules
Sexual Offender Registration
2/21/12 Senate introduction, 1st Reading, to Printing
2/22/12 Report printed, to Judiciary
3/1/12 Report out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/2/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/5/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 35-0-0
3/6/12 House introduction, 1st Reading, to Judiciary
3/8/12 Report out, Recommended Do Pass, to 2nd Reading
3/9/12 2nd Reading, to 3rd Reading
3/21/12 3rd Reading, PASSED 64-1-5
3/22/12 Report enrolled, President signed
3/23/12 Speaker signed
3/26/12 To Governor
Amends existing law to reflect recent changes to statutory rape laws in Idaho. This amendment would give recourse to offenders that were convicted under previous rape statutes that are no longer in effect to remove their names from the sexual offender registry if they would not have been convicted under new statutory rape standards.
Recent Comments