Department of Health and Welfare Child Protection Waivers (Scott) HB 101

This bill would require Department of Health and Welfare employees who are investigating child neglect, abuse or abandonment, to provide a notification to the parent or guardian of their constitutional rights when they commence on an investigation directly and in person.

.Idaho Department of Fish and Game Search and Inspection (Scott) HB 110

This legislation helps clarify language related search and seizures conducted by IDFG to insure constitutional rights are respected.

Industrial Hemp (Moon & Troy)

An Idaho Industrial hemp bill was introduced on Friday. Currently hemp production and possession are illegal in Idaho. The 2019 Federal Farm Bill now classifies hemp as a regular agriculture crop. Idaho will hopefully follow suit and legalize this important agricultural crop. Any opportunity we get to diversify our agricultural commodities, will be a benefit to the state’s economy and citizens.

Daylight Savings Time (Zito)

This legislation would allow the southern half of the state to get off of daylight savings time and keep North Idaho on it. This would allow Boise and North Idaho times to align for 8 out of 12 months. The bill was introduced on Friday.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) (Giddings) HB114

This bill is an important step in protecting females in Idaho. It is important and critical now due to increase occurrences in other states. Idaho needs to be a leader in stopping this horrific practice.

Streamlining Constitutional Carry (Zito)

Idaho’s version of Constitutional Carry was passed in 2016 but has a “resident” requirement for carrying concealed without a permit. It is also confusing for a small group of residents between 18-21 as to where they can and cannot carry. Under the current law, non-residents and 18-year-olds can’t carry their sidearm inside of city limits without a permit. There is currently a proposal to clean up the language proposed by Representative Christy Zito. She is awaiting a print hearing by Chairman Harris.

Abortion Human Rights Act

Despite the enormous support and interest in this legislation from our state and around the county, Chairman Harris has, to date, denied it a hearing in the State Affairs committee, which would assign it a bill number. I am hopeful his heart will be changed to advance this critical issue.  You can read more about the bill or listen to radio interviews explaining the bill and its progress at the links below.  

Medicaid Expansion (Prop 2)

Recently, Reclaim Idaho visited the Capitol trying to convince legislators accept Medicaid expansion “AS IS”. Remember this was a voter approved proposition with no language to address funding.  An interesting fact I learned about Medicaid that you may want to take note of and share with your friends and neighbors is that should you choose to accept it and you are a property owner, that property can be confiscated to recover funds paid to you. This is scary because this a major step toward socialized health care and the loss of personal property and freedoms. Ultimately, someone, likely your children or grandchildren will have to pay for this expansion. There is also concerns that some of this Medicaid funding will go to pay for abortions.

School Funding Formula

The School Funding Formula is out and there is appearing to be a lot of controversy and confusion surrounding it. This legislation creates an updated, streamlined, effective and student-centered model for funding Idaho’s public schools. Each school would get a set amount of money for each student, but they would also be able to get additional funding for each student who needs more resources. That includes students in special education, those who are economically disadvantaged, English language learners, the gifted and talented, and grades K‐3 and 9‐12. More funding would also be considered for especially small school districts and remote rural schools.

This formula is the result of three years of work from the bipartisan Public-School Funding Formula Interim Committee. The plan includes input from district leaders from around the state as well as the Education Commission of the States. The Committee unanimously recommended the funding model.  My rural district has concerns!

Legislation to Strengthen Parental Rights for Sex Ed

Graphic material has slipped into Idaho schools, through the Health and Welfare Department bureaucrats. When legislator Barb Ehardt learned that Idaho students were being exposed to masturbation techniques, fornication as part of an abstinence program and how to access services without their parents knowing,  she stepped into action. 

Her proposed legislation changes how Idaho’s students take part in sex education and gives parents the complete picture of what their kids are learning. Currently, parents must opt out of sex education or instruction for their children. Under the new proposal, a parent or legal guardian would instead opt in for sex education classes or any presentation regarding sexuality.  You can click on the photo to watch her video or click (HERE)  to read an article on it. 

Many believe that this constitutional amendment would be nothing more than a back door for gun confiscation cloaked as a victim’s right bill. If passed into law, this bill could be the opportunity that gun grabbers need to remove guns from the “accused” without due process or an actual felony committed.  Here is a great article on the issue (link)