 Eye on Boise
March 12, 2018
By Betsy Russell
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter today signed HB 463, the $200
million-plus income tax cut bill, into law, praising lawmakers for passing the
bill and indicating he’s also looking favorably toward a follow-up bill to add
another $25 million in cuts by expanding a child tax credit.
“I’m very proud to sign this bill,” Otter said. Click Here for the
rest of the story.
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Student achievers from the “Invent Idaho” program displayed
their inventions this week in the state capitol.
“Invent Idaho” is one of
the leading student invention programs in the Northwest. Since its inception in 1989, it has provided a
forum for thousands of young inventors in grades one through eight.
Invent Idaho is the only program in Idaho that celebrates student
creativity and innovation, while teaching the inventive thinking process in an
interdisciplinary curriculum. Young inventors participate in progressive levels
of competitions, including three Regional events held across Idaho, culminating
in an Invent Idaho State Finals event. Click
Here to learn more
Dear Friends,
As we anticipate the 2018 Idaho Legislative Session coming to an
end. It has been an honor for me to keep you informed of events and
legislation in this year’s session. This week in Commerce & Human
Resources, we heard bill H0547 dealing with building codes in Idaho.
Currently, building codes are implemented by county. As builders must
comply within their respective jurisdictions, this bill aims to unify building
codes throughout the state.
We also heard H0466,
regarding minimum wage laws for businesses. Currently, farms can hire
underage family members without paying them minimum wage. H0466
aims to extend this same provision to other businesses in Idaho outside of
farming.
In
committee, we heard a presentation from the Amalgamated Sugar Company.
The company aims to educate the community about the benefits of GMO
(genetically modified organisms) sugar beets provide. Sugar is a major
industry in our area and a billion-dollar industry nationwide.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you! I always enjoy
hearing from my constituents.
Sincerely, Jim Patrick
House
Bill 658 passed the House this week on a vote of 45 yes-22no-3absent.
This legislation
strengthens Idaho's private property rights protections by bringing all
trespass law into one section. This will
ensure that property rights laws are more easily understood by landowners, the
public and law enforcement. The bill eliminates inconsistencies in criminal and
civil penalties and increases some penalties. The bill also enables expanded
educational programs to ensure that property owners' rights as well as
citizens' responsibilities are well understood.
Senate
Bill 1313 labeled self-defense legislation would provide that a law-abiding
person has “no duty to retreat” from an attack if the person is in any place
the person has a right to be and would also codify a legal presumption known as
the “Castle Doctrine”. The “Castle Doctrine”
simply says that if a criminal breaks into your home, your occupied vehicle or
your place of business, you may presume he is there to do bodily harm and you
may use force against him. This
legislation consolidates and codifies existing law and clarifies that in the
exercise of self-defense, a law-abiding citizen may stand their ground and
protect themselves or their family anywhere they have a legal right to be. This bill passed the House and will be
forwarded to the Governor for his consideration and signature.
House
Bill 675 (Child tax credit, trailer bill) passed the House Revenue and
Taxation Committee and was presented on the House floor and passed unanimously.
The bill increases the Child Tax Credit
to $205, a $75 increase over the $130 Child Tax Credit in H463. The reason for
the increase was due to a disparity in tax liability for large families. The bill is now in the Senate Tax Committee
awaiting a hearing.
Also met this week with Amalgamated Sugar, Idaho Dairymen’s Assn.,
Idaho Physicians & Residents and Idaho Speech, Language & Hearing Assn.
As always, call or email with comments or concerns. It is an honor to serve as your District 25
Representative.
Sincerely, Clark Kauffman
Committee members from JFAC presenting flowers to Representative Maxine Bell.
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We are moving from lawn mowers running to snow hitting the
windows. Must be March in Idaho. And that means we will be
completing this session of the Legislature very soon.
The bills with concerns are finally getting to the voting
process. My JFAC group has completed the FY2019 budget and spent the past week
working on trailer bills. Our committee runs about 120 bills to fund the
supplements for FY2018 and the bills for the coming fiscal year which starts
July 1. Along with that activity, we fund any bills that are passed from
both bodies with a need for funding. It was a very large list this year,
adding up to fourteen million. Because of the work to lower tax rates,
and cover those who would be hurt by the federal tax changes, our work with the
spending side has been more measured.
At this time, we know the reduction to the revenue stream because of our
appropriation bills. However, the
revenues continue to come in very strong, so we also know that growth could
offset the tax reductions. As I look at the final figures, it is apparent
that we will be spending $173.6 million or 5.0% for three areas which are: Public School support, Health and Welfare
support, and Corrections. The entire rest of the budget will be covered
by 28.1 million of 0.8% of the new spending for the coming year.
My
committee has done a terrific job in a very thoughtful way. My hat goes
off to each of them. I am finishing the week with two beautiful flower arrangements. I have learned that the nicest people work with me and for the Idaho Legislature.
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