Senator Camille Blaylock - District 11
We’re officially at the halfway point of the 2025 legislative session, and things are in full swing at the Capitol. I’m working to ensure the policies passed reflect the values and priorities of District 11.
As we move into the second half, key debates on budgets, tax relief, and healthcare reform will take center stage. Here’s a quick update.
 House Bill 93 sparked a lot of debate, and I’ve heard from many of you—some in strong support, others with concerns. I get it. I too have concerns around the tax credit model and the lack of open enrollment for private schools. I raised these issues during the floor debate, and I hope you’ll watch it to see why, in the end, I chose to support this legislation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZUVG4D0jI8).
What it comes down to is that I support more options for education. Public schools, homeschooling, and charter schools were all part of my personal education journey so I know firsthand how valuable choice is. I remember when charter schools first came to Idaho, people had similar worries that they would defund public schools, but charter schools are now a beloved part of our education system. I see similar potential for microschools, learning pods, and other innovative education models that HB 93 supports.
This bill prioritizes low-income families by providing tax credits to help with education costs. It does come with a hefty $50 million price tag, but I pushed for the repeal of the Empowering Parents Grant which will save $30 million making HB 93 more fiscally responsible.
It’s not a perfect bill, and I know concerns remain. There will be tweaks along the way and a review of its impact, but I’m excited about the future of education and the opportunities creative programs like this can bring.
Click Here to watch my debate on the Senate floor.
Cutting Red Tape to Strengthen Senior Care in Idaho
This session, I had the opportunity to bring stakeholders together to tackle a big challenge—making sure Idaho has enough residential care and assisted living options for our growing senior population.
Senate Bill 1102 delivers practical reform by cutting red tape and making it easier to open and expand care facilities. It eliminates redundant paperwork, ensures surveys are scheduled, allows administrators to oversee multiple communities, and eases workloads for RNs and caregivers. Most importantly, it removes financial incentives for the state to collect fees from these communities -- shifting the focus from punishment to problem-solving. Facilities can now reinvest penalty fees into fixing issues and improving resident care rather than sending those funds to the government.
This is a big win for Idaho’s seniors and a step toward smarter, more effective regulations!
Evaluating Medicaid Expansion in Idaho
Medicaid expansion is significantly over budget, and there is no question that we need to stop the financial hemorrhaging. House Bill 138 seeks 11 federal waivers to allow Medicaid expansion to continue in Idaho. While I support adding reasonable guardrails—such as work requirements and low co-pays—I have concerns about the bill’s all-or-nothing approach. If even one waiver is denied, Medicaid expansion would be fully repealed, making repeal the most likely outcome by default.
Ending Medicaid expansion without a transition plan would have serious consequences. Unlike before expansion, Idaho no longer has the catastrophic health care fund or county indigent programs to cover medical costs for those who lose access. Without alternatives, the burden will fall on hospitals, providers, and taxpayers.
I strongly support implementing guardrails now while also starting discussions on a long-term strategy to phase out expansion in a responsible way. I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue - please email me at cblaylock@senate.idaho.gov
A bill is moving through the legislature to increase the grocery tax credit for Idahoans. I appreciate any effort to ease financial strain, but I think we should just repeal the grocery tax altogether. Repealing it would provide immediate relief for families who need it most—those that an extra $40–$50 a month back in their budget makes a real difference, rather than waiting until tax time for a refund.
If a full repeal isn’t an option this session, I will support the credit increase as a step in the right direction. However, I wouldn’t support both—if we repeal the tax, there’s no need for the credit as it would just be a handout at that point.
What do you think? Should we repeal the grocery tax, increase the credit, or take a different approach? Email me and let me know!
Trust in our political process is crucial—but recent events have shown just how easily that trust can be manipulated.
During my campaign, political maneuvering led to a last-minute candidate swap, reshuffling the general election ballot (read about it here). The Democratic Party pulled two candidates who had already run in the primaries and reappointed them to different seats—a move made possible by some bad advice from the SOS's office. The result? Voters were denied the chance to properly vet their general election candidates through the primary process. That’s why I support House Bill 114, which would make it harder for these kinds of tricks to take place and ensure voters—not party insiders—decide who appears on the ballot.
Unfortunately, election integrity issues don’t stop there. Lawmakers, including myself, have been flooded with fake advocacy emails, making it harder to tell real voices from coordinated misinformation. A report from Idaho Reports uncovered fabricated messages sent regarding key legislation—a troubling tactic that erodes trust in the legislative process (read about it here).
I fully support efforts to bring more transparency and accountability to campaign finance, but we must strike the right balance—stopping bad actors without silencing legitimate grassroots advocacy.
Rental Application Fees or Fraud?
Finding a rental in Idaho has gotten tougher, with high application fees and scams making the process even more frustrating. Senate Bill 1042 aims to fix that by capping how many applicants landlords can charge at a time and requiring full transparency in fees. This helps weed out bad actors, protects renters from unnecessary costs, and builds trust between tenants and property owners.
I usually believe businesses should set their own policies, but even responsible landlords support this as a fair, commonsense way to clean up the rental market. I liked this bill because I think it solves a real problem facing Idahoans today.
My goal is to serve District 11 with integrity and thoughtfulness, and I hope to make you proud. I know I won’t make everyone happy with every vote, but please know that each decision I make is well-researched, carefully considered, and made with the best interests of our community in mind. I’m working hard for you, and I want to hear from you! Email is the best way to reach me with any concerns, issues, or thoughts on legislation—I value your input and appreciate the opportunity to represent you.
CBlaylock@senate.idaho.gov
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