Idaho Legislative Session
IDL continues following the legislative session and a number of bills. There are currently three bills that might affect how we do business on behalf of the endowment beneficiaries, one that would modify encroachments in place prior to 1974, and another that could increase the workload with handling land sales for other agencies.
House Bill 434 - State Land Leases
This legislation would require all leases, land permits and other land use agreements for state land entered into by the State Board of Land Commissioners have standard terms and conditions for maintenance and repair and include provisions for remediation.
- 01/26 Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
- 01/29 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation
House Bill 409 - State Government
This legislation repeals Section 67-5709A, which creates a separate process for the sale of the state administrative facilities in the custody or control of the State of Idaho.
- 01/18 Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
- 01/19 Reported Printed; Filed for Second Reading
- 01/22 Read second time; Filed for Third Reading for 01/23
- 01/23 House - Passed: Ayes 70 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 0, title approved, to Senate
- 01/24 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
Senate Bill 1243 - Grazing rights, state lands
This legislation would allow the grazing leases from the Owyhee Land Exchange that came in from federal lands to be treated as if it were a federal permit, automatically renewing every 10 years with no auction. It would only apply to lands acquired through federal land exchanges.
- 01/23 Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
- 01/24 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Resources & Environment
- 02/06 Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- 02/07 Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- 02/12 Read third time in full – PASSED - 31-4-0, approved to House
- 02/13 Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
Read First Time, Referred to Resources & Conservation
- 02/28 Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- 02/29 House - Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- 03/01 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, March 4, 2024
- 03/06 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day; objection
- 03/07 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
Senate Bill 1279 - Navigational Encroachments
This legislation adds a clarifying definition to section 58-1312 in relation to the Lake Protection Act. It defines the term “modified” to mean the location has not been changed and the footprint has not been expanded in dimension.
- 02/06 Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
- 02/07 Reported Printed; referred to Resources & Environment
- 02/12 Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- 02/13 Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- 02/21 Read third time in full – PASSED - 34-0-1
Title apvd - to House
- 02/22 Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
Read First Time, Referred to Resources & Conservation
Senate Bill 1342 - Grazing Leases
Amends existing law to exclude grazing leases from certain hearing requirements and to provide that all state lands may be leased for a period of up to forty years for grazing leases.
- 02/12 Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
- 02/13 Reported Printed; referred to Resources & Environment
-
02/22 Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
Read First Time, Referred to Resources & Conservation
- 02/26 Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- 02/27 Senate - Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- 02/29 Senate - Passed: Ayes 33 Nays 0 Excused 2; title approved; to House
- 03/01 House - Read First Time, Referred to Resources & Conservation
- 03/07 House - Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
Visit the archive of IDL Legislative Update Newsletters
Annual Performance Report
On Monday, February 26 Director Miller presented IDL's Annual Performance Report to the Senate Resources and Environment Committee, providing an overview of accomplishments, goals, and performance measures. Committee members asked about the Veterans' Cemetery acquisition, GNA and how IDL determines the amount of endowment timber to be harvested. IDL was also thanked for its hard work, professionalism and success with its fire program.
The director previously gave two presentations to the House Resources and Conservation Committee. The first was IDL's Annual Performance Report on January 31. The second was a presentation on Endowment Land Management and the Land Bank which provided the opportunity for the Director and EFIB Manager Chris Anton to explain endowment reform, constitutional and statutory requirements as well as policies and process for reaching the goals and meeting requirements for distributions.
IDL Budget Update
JFAC Appropriations and Fire Suppression Deficiency Warrant Fund
The bill for IDL and EFIB's appropriations is working its way through the legislature.
Senate Bill 1410 - Appropriations - State Board of Land Commissioners
- 03/05 Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
- 03/06 Senate - Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
JFAC Natural Resources Maintenance Budget, Senate Bill 1269, was signed by the Governor on February 26.
IDL Rulemaking
All IDL Rulemaking is now complete with the House Resources and Conservation Committee taking up the Rules Governing Dredge and Placer Mining Operations on Thursday, February 29. They accepted all but one section regarding an increase in fees to cover costs, stating statute requires the exact cost be billed to each person rather than an average cost for all.
Rules Governing Dredge and Placer Mining Operations
IDAPA 20.03.01 - Pending Fee Rule
The Idaho Department of Lands administers IDAPA 20.03.01, Rules Governing Dredge and Placer Mining Operations under the authority of the Idaho Dredge and Placer Mining Protection Act (Title 47, Chapter 13, Idaho Code).
IDAPA 20.03.01 allows responsible resource extraction while protecting the lands, streams and watercourses of the state.
- 02/29 The House Resources and Conservation Committee voted to accept this pending rule fee with the exception of section 51.01.a.
- 02/9 The Senate Resources and Environment Committee voted to accept this pending fee rule.
Associated Logging Contractors
Director Miller, Bill Haagenson, Craig Foss, Jim Elbin, Archie Gray and Robbie Johnson met with members of the Associated Logging Contractors on Wednesday, February 28 and attended their evening reception.
Shawn Keough, Executive Director of the Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho led a panel discussion at the Idaho Capitol. Topics included IDL's work to provide a sustainable timber supply, Forest Legacy, and recognition of the role loggers play in Idaho's $2.5 billion timber industry and forest health programs.
The following reception drew many Idaho lawmakers who interacted with logging contractors and IDL leadership.
Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho represents 536 independent logging and wood hauling contracting companies from across the state.
 IDL leadership meeting with Associated Logging Contractors
Women In the Woods Returns
The Women in the Woods classes are back! These events give women landowners the opportunity to interact with a lineup of all-women forestry experts, creating an atmosphere where forest management training is tailored to female land managers.
Women landowners have an increasing role in forest management decisions and it’s important they have confidence and skill in managing their family forests.
There will be two classes offered by the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and the University of Idaho Extension.
The Women in the Woods Workshop will be held Friday, April 5 at the IDL office in Coeur d’Alene from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. While it is geared toward women, anyone is welcome to attend. There are no prerequisites, and no level of baseline knowledge is required.
The second class, the Women in the Woods Field Day, puts participants out in the woods, rotating through different exercises covering forest assessment, ecology, and forest management. The Field Day will be held on May 10 at Pine Street Woods in Sandpoint from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participation in the classroom session is not a prerequisite requirement for signing up.
 Using hatchets to learn about forest health and bark beetle. Hatchets were donated by Idaho Forest Group. (2023)
Bear on a Chair
Idaho Department of Lands is celebrating Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday in August. You have heard of “Elf on a Shelf.” Well, to highlight fire prevention efforts this year we have our very own “Bear on a Chair.”
Since 1944, Smokey Bear has taught millions of Americans about their role in preventing wildfires. Idaho’s Fire Prevention Officer Jen Russell will send Smokey Bears to all IDL offices. And staff will take photos of him in the field and around the office. Look for the pictures on IDL social media, our website, and in these Director’s Updates.
View a post on Facebook and other IDL social media.
High-Visibility PPE Shirts
Keeping IDL employees safe is a priority. IDL offers high visibility shirts and sweatshirts to field going employees for those who work in conditions where high-visibility PPE is required or recommended, such as logging operations, log yards, or inspections of private and IDL lands.
Thank you Jonathan Luhnow for modeling these items for us.
 
Idaho IRA UCF Grant Program
Idaho Department of Lands Urban and Community Forestry Program is opening up our portal for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Project Proposals. Quick facts and forms can be found here.
2024 Arbor Day Grant Program
Idaho Department of Lands Urban and Community Forestry in cooperation with Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association (INLA) is once again providing grants to assist communities with celebrating Arbor Day in 2024. These grants are made possible in part by the generous contributions from sponsors Idaho Power, Rocky Mountain Power, and Avista utilities. This year 45 Arbor Day grants will be awarded to Idaho communities in the amount of $300 each for “Planting Idaho.”
In Case You Missed It
Here's a recap of other recent IDL newsletters you may find interesting:
One Team One Voice Webpage
Did you miss some important news? Are you curious about knowing what's happening across IDL? Our One Team, One Voice webpage contains an archive of IDL's newsletters covering:
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