Newsletter, February 28, 2018
Floor Session:
Lots of activity on the Floor this week, with a few strongly debated Bills, a couple Bills failing to pass, and a turn on the General Orders docket. General Orders is where we send Bills to be amended. The final five Bills on the list below were amended and passed this week. One of the most debated Bills was H461 which was a proposal to allow the State of Idaho to refuse to obey unconstitutional executive orders and Supreme Court rulings. The debate consisted of much hyperbole from those against it, and an invoking of the original intent of America's Founding Fathers from those in favor. The Bill ended up failing to pass. Another Bill that was debated at length was H578 which was a proposal to begin taxing internet sales. It effectively altered the definition of what a "retailer engaged in business in the State" was, and thereby allowed for the collection of sales tax on internet purchases. The debate went on for over an hour and a half, and caused us to hold the remaining Bills until the next day. The Bill eventually passed by a total of 46-21-2.
As in previous Legislative Sessions, all Bills passed and all votes are "YES" unless otherwise noted.
H515 Amends law regarding taxation of college savings plans
H458 Repeals law and ads Idaho Architecture Practice Act
H459 Amends law regarding appraisals
H497 Amends law regarding towing of lienholder vehicle
H489 Amends law regarding provisional appointments
H490 Amends law regarding non-classified state employees
S1209 Amends law regarding Idaho Petroleum Clean Water Trust Fund
H430 Amends law regarding crime victims confidentiality
H446 Amends law regarding notaries public
H461 Provides a procedure for invalidating public laws FAIL
H388 Amends law regarding vehicle operations on approach of emergency vehicle
H543 Amends law regarding seat belts for mail carriers
H472 Amends law regarding state match for Rural Physician Investment Fund N
H559 Amends law regarding property tax exemptions
H561 Amends law to provide for automatic reduction in income tax
H419 Adds to law to prohibit application of foreign laws in Idaho courts
H429 Amends law regarding crime victims compensation
H447 Amends existing law regarding civil asset forfeitures
H474 Repeals existing law regarding session laws
H535 Amends law regarding how sales are conducted
H549 Add to law to provide ability to dispatch and salvage animals struck on highway
H478 Amends law regarding qualifications of electrical journeymen (I carried this Bill)
H479 Amends law regarding electrical license requirements
H480 Amends law regarding specialty electrical licenses
H521 Amends law regarding motor vehicle service contracts
H522 Amends law regarding certificates of insurance
H526 Amends law regarding farm equipment supplier agreements
H460 Amends law regarding public fund investment FAIL N
H506 Adds to law regarding registration of military vehicles
H612 Appropriation to create Technology Infrastructure Stability Fund $22,000,000
H505 Amends law regarding physical therapy and "dry needling"
H591 Amends law regarding tax exemptions for new capitol investments
H592 Amends law regarding use tax at Idaho National Laboratories
H481 Amends law regarding plumbers certificate of competency N
H482 Amends law regarding HVAC certificates of competency N
H483 Amends law regarding HVAC journeyman's examination
H484 Amends law regarding inactive plumbers licenses
H448 Amends law regarding breastfeeding in public
H531 Amends law regarding drunk minors seeking emergency assistance
H533 Amends law regarding per diem rates for prisoners
H534 Amends law regarding bail enforcement agents N
HJM12 Urges Federal Government to ease commercial drivers license restrictions
HR5 Allows amendment of House Rule 58
HCR46 Rejects rule regarding Board of Dentistry
HCR47 Rejects rule regarding Health and Welfare TAFI program
HCR41 Appoints a Committee to study State Employee Group Health Plan
HCR40 Allows amendment of Joint Rule 16
S1218 Amends law to provide primacy for Idaho regarding NPDES Program
S1233 Amends law regarding STEM Action Center Board
H578 Amends law regarding sales tax on internet sales N
H487 Amends law regarding bond and levy elections (sent back to Committee)
H550 Amends law regarding Flood Control Districts
H567 Amends law regarding Cemetery Maintenance Districts
H604 Amends law regarding annexation of agricultural land
S1208 Amends law regarding inmate labor in agriculture
Committee Reports:
JFAC:
It was a full week of budget hearings for Fiscal Year 2019. All the budgets were passed with little concern from the Committee and no opposing motions.
As a point of information, many of these budgets contain dedicated and federal funds. This means that, even though there may be an increase over the 2018 budget, it does not mean that there were additional dollars appropriated from our general fund.
The budgets were:
Public School Support
Administrators $93,724,700 +3.4% over 2018
Teachers $970,079,600 +4.9% over 2018
Operations $687,765,800 +5.2% over 2018
Children's Programs $310,044,600 +3.8% over 2018
Facilities $53,545,700 +10.4% over 2018
Central Services $14,475,300 +3.6% over 2018
Education Services for the Deaf and the Blind $10,979,300 +0.9% over 2018
Public Education Stabilization Fund transfer $32,000,000
Commission on Hispanic Affairs $350,000 +12.5% over 2018
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired $4,986,400 no change
Endowment Fund Investment Board $722,700 -4.1% under 2018
Lava Hot Springs Foundation $2,300,000 +0.9% over 2018
Office of Species Conservation $4,200,000 +0.8% over 2018
Soil and Water Conservation Commission $3,300,000 +6.4% over 2018
Dept. of Juvenile Corrections $52,100,000 -1.3% under 2018
State Appellate Public Defender $2,900,000 +2.0% over 2018
State Board of Education
Agricultural Research & Extension $31,331,000 +0.1% over 2018
Career-Technical Education $75,963,200 +1.6% over 2018
State Board of Education $15,961,200 +8.8% over 2018
Idaho Public Television $9,448,600 -1.9% under 2018
STEM Action Center $4,676,600 -29% under 2018
Office of Energy and Mineral Resources $1,308,700 +0.6% over 2018
Public Utilities Commission (I carry this budget) $6,682,600 +1.7% over 2018
Division of Financial Management $1,958,700 +1.6% over 2018
Legislative Services Office $7,911,700 +1.3% over 2018
Office of Performance Evaluation $899,500 +1.5% over 2018
Idaho State Police
Brand Inspection $3,123,700 +1.1% over 2018
Division of Idaho State Police $75,382,000 +8.2% over 2018
Peace Officer Standards and Training $4,815,000 +2.7% over 2018
Racing Commission $427,900 -34.2% under 2018
Commission for Libraries $5,900,700 +2.6% over 2018
State Independent Living Council $697,800 -5.8% under 2018
Dept. of Health and Welfare
Mental Health Services $53,137,300 +5.4% over 2018
Psychiatric Hospitalization $38,750,200 +0.2% over 2018
Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention $17,206,300 +16.1% over 2018
Catastrophic Health Care Program $9,999,700 -44.4% under 2018
Transportation & Defense:
We heard 7 House Bills this week:
H512 Driver's License, fees
H509 Off-highway vehicles
H510 Over-snow vehicles
H508 Electric-assisted bicycles
H540 Pet friendly license plates
S1214 State veterans cemeteries
SCR130 ITD rulemaking
All Bills were sent to the House Floor with a "do pass" recommendation except three. H510 and H508 were held in Committee, and H540 was sent to general orders for amending.
Business:
We had two meetings this week and heard 8 House Bills.
H481 Plumbing competency requirement
H482 HVAC competency requirement
H483 HVAC exams and certificates
H484 Plumbers, inactive certificates
H518 Recorder's fees
H519 Title Insurance reimbursement
H524 Fire Districts, real property
H548 Insurance, long term care
All were sent to the House Floor with a "do pass" recommendation.
I encourage you to contact me with any questions or concerns, and I am grateful for the opportunity to represent District 1 in The Idaho House of Representatives.
Lord Bless,
Sage G. Dixon
