Liberty Supporters,
Wow! As the 67th Legislative Session comes to a close, I want to say that I worked tirelessly to coordinate with colleagues in the Senate and House to bring forth legislation that improves the lives for all Idahoans. I was fortunate to participate in successfully moving forward some key legislation into law and only wish we could have done better on others. Some of you are as frustrated as I am that not everything on our legislative “conservative agenda” was accomplished in 2023. As we prepare to Sine Die on Thursday, April 6, I have had time to reflect on the session.
THE GOOD
Huge efforts were made on behalf of the true conservative “common sense” legislation. There are too many too list. I have identified some below:
- SB1081 – This bill would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain an Idaho Driver’s License. FAILED
- HB124 Election Integrity – Now students cannot use their student IDs to register to vote in Idaho PASSED
- HB 292 Property Tax Relief – Governor’s Veto overridden by the Legislature. This legislation gives property owners tax relief through a sales tax credit and tax relief from school facilities bonds and levies through a sales tax credit provided to schools. It also increases the Circuit Breaker relief for low-income households. This is complicated legislation but if you read it carefully it does make sense. Property tax is not being shifted to businesses. Taxpayers are receiving credits (4.5 %) from total State sales tax revenue. No, sales tax is not going up. A percent (4.5% total) of sales tax revenue is being allocated to property tax relief.
- HB71 Gender Dysphoria – Stops genital surgeries and puberty blockers for children. This bill is on the governor’s desk.
- HB314 – Removes minor’s access to harmful materials in schools and libraries. This bill is on the governor’s desk.
- SB1100 – Public school bathrooms and facilities will be used by each student’s biological gender. PASSED
- HB228 – This bill Defined “Abstinence”. Reducing the Risk Sex Ed Curriculum has been using a non-traditional definition confusing parents as to what their children were learning. Reducing the Risk Curriculum was also removed from the appropriation for the Health & Welfare budget. YEAH! PASSED
- HB202 – Display the words “In God We Trust” in schools. PASSED
- HB242 – Trafficking of Minors for Abortions. Bill is on the governor’s desk.
- SB 1029 – Prohibits investigations and court orders terminating a parent’s relationship with their child based on the child’s immunization status. PASSED
- HB267 – Expands the capacity of career technical education (CTE) in Idaho middle and high schools (grades 7-12), particularly in rural and remote communities. PASSED
THE BAD
Things we could not accomplish or stop:
- HB24 – The governor’s Idaho Launch bill giving high school graduates $8,500 per student for higher ed or workforce training. PASSED
- HB133 – Parents being allowed to teach their kids Driver’s Ed. Veto’d by the governor. Why?
- HB205 – Absentee Voting cleanup was attempted. FAILED
- S1038 – Educational Savings Accounts and S1161 Empowering Parents Revamp. A large portion of constituents want these programs but the educational lobby groups and a strange number of legislators want to provide college scholarships of $8500 for each high school student instead. FAILED A related bill, S1161, also FAILED
- SB1099 – This bill would have protected students and families from intrusion into personal and private matters by the government and transparency to parents regarding activities within schools FAILED
- S1018 – Prohibit certain conduct regarding food that contains a vaccine or vaccine material without notification of the presence of the vaccine or vaccine material. FAILED
- S1093 – Labeling of food prohibit certain conduct regarding food that contains a vaccine and to provide labeling in certain instances. FAILED
THE UGLY
- HB138 removed the Presidential Primary in March and May (accidentally) PASSED
- S1186 Trailer bill to add the Presidential Primary back into May but it failed in State of Affairs Committee. So, at the moment there is no Presidential Primary? What the heck? FAILED
THE INTERESTING
- S1127 – Designation of the State Dinosaur PASSED
- S1143 Authorizes the IF&G to create a season for collecting horn sheds PASSED
- HB186 Firing Squad added as a form of Capital Punishment due to lack of lethal medication being available PASSED
- HB156 Changing Rattlesnake classification of Non-Game Protected to Predatory Wildlife PASSED
There are so many issues we should be dealing with and working against. They are coming at us at a fast rate of speed. Due to the harmful materials in our schools and libraries, sexual mutilation surgeries and puberty blockers being utilized on our kids, we now have a lot of minors and young people confused about life and committing suicide. We need to help those who have been affected by these issues. We need to get involved and do what we can for them now! Please help in any manner that you are able.
If you haven’t seen this yet, watch this video on why Sex surgeries and puberty blockers are being pushed our kids.
This newsletter has been lengthy with lots of information. Please send me a note at some point telling me what you have liked and disliked. The purpose is to keep you updated as quick as possible and not to provide too much information. I will make adjustments and change gears as necessary for next session. Don’t be afraid to navigate the Idaho Legislative website as it is full of the information links that have been provided above. The governor has a website as well and you can view his Bill Tracker page to see which bills he has on his desk.
Thank you for all the input and the tremendous support you have provided.
We are ALL IN FOR IDAHO!
Senator Cindy Carlson,
District 7