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Capitol Reflections: 2025 Session, Issue 3

By: Idaho Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs

 

 

 

“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.” - President John Adams

 

 

 

 

 

Capitol Minute

 

 

To help our members be fully informed about the issues going on during the legislative session, there will be a short video each week in which our Governmental Affairs team highlights what is discussed in length in the Capitol Reflections Newsletter. We strongly encourage members to continue reading the newsletter to get the most information, but this new video will help when you want a quick synopsis or to learn about the issues on the go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three IFBF Wildlife Bills Introduced This Week

 

 

This week, three Farm Bureau-supported bills were introduced in the Senate Resources and Environment Committee:

1. Agricultural Representation on Winter-Feeding Committees

S1011 requires that at least one agricultural producer serve on each of Idaho Fish and Game’s winter-feeding committees, each consisting of five members. These committees guide when and where to feed elk and deer. Currently, these committees are composed of a “cross-section” of sportsmen and landowners, but not necessarily agricultural producers—those most impacted by feeding decisions. The bill also mandates that all committee members reside in the district where the committee operates. This ensures local representation and gives agriculture a direct voice in these decisions. IFBF policy 65.10 supports this policy.

2. Idaho Depredating Wildlife Appeals Board

S1012 creates the Idaho Depredating Wildlife Appeals Board. This board would be a three-member panel made up of the directors of the State Department of Agriculture and the Department of Fish and Game (or their designees) and an appointed veterinarian. Currently, Wildlife Services (a division under USDA) is the only authorized agency to perform depredation investigations caused by wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, and mountain lions. If an investigation is not confirmed, it greatly limits the accessibility of depredation funding for the producer as well as control efforts performed by the state.

This appeals board would review the initial inspection of Wildlife Services as well as any other evidence the producer submits and determine if it warrants a changed ruling. Since they will be considered a state authorized investigator, this will aid in making federal and state funding available, as well as helping the state determine where depredation is occurring and where the state needs to focus control efforts.

Included in this legislation is the provision that the board has closed-door meetings. Producers have been accosted by radical groups who use personal information shared in these types of meetings to trespass and cause damage to agricultural operations as well as try to chase off wildlife. This provision keeps producers and personal information safe, especially if the board decides not to upgrade the ruling. If the producer does get a confirmation as a result of the depredation board’s deliberations, the producer would submit that ruling to the Office of Species Conservation for depredation reimbursement, just like they would with a Wildlife Services ruling, and that monetary total would still be public knowledge.

This bill gives greater responsibility to the state in investigating wildlife and aids producers and control efforts. IFBF policy 78.8 supports this policy.

3. Teaching Trespass Laws in Hunter and Trapper Education

S1013 requires that trespass laws be taught in hunter and trapper education courses. This is especially important as more and more of these classes are being taught online. The bill also allows people to trap under the supervision of a licensed outfitter or guide without the person being supervised having to take the course themselves. If they ever want to trap independently, they will have to take the course. This essentially creates a journeyman experience for trappers to learn how to trap and the expense associated with it. As a result, the state should have people better educated and interested in trapping. This will be especially important as the state is perpetually needing assistance in wolf control. IFBF policies 1595.3 and 78.1 support this legislation.

 

 

 

 

 

Legislative Review of Agency Rules

 

 

This week, the legislative committees have been busy reviewing state agency rules. Most of these rules are being reviewed as part of the Governor’s past Zero-Based Rules (ZBR) Executive Order and last year’s bill, H563, which further clarified the process and re-established a regular schedule for every administrative rule to be thoroughly examined. This important process allows the elected officials to weigh in on the rules that agencies write in connection with the laws the legislature passes. Rules have the force and effect of law, and thus, should be reviewed by the elected officials who actually write the laws.

To begin the ZBR review process, each agency notifies stakeholders and the public of the review schedule for each rule and alerts them of opportunities to provide input. The agency then updates the rules based on feedback and administrative efforts to ensure the rules are relevant and fulfill their intended purposes. Once the rules have been updated, they go before the legislature for review and final approval.

IFBF Policy #147 states our support of a complete review of existing regulations to determine their effectiveness and appropriateness prior to assigning more restrictive regulations. We also support a peer review of the existing regulations to determine their potential to mitigate the problems they address.

For a complete list of the rules that will be reviewed this session, please visit this link: 2025 Legislative Rules Review Books | adminrules.idaho.gov

We express our gratitude to ISDA, IDWR, IF&G and the other state agencies that Farm Bureau works with for the open and transparent way they conducted the rule review process over the past year. We also thank the legislature for their diligent inspection and careful consideration of these rules prior to their approval.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effort to Streamline Idaho Laws

 

 

Over the last several years, all Idaho agency rules have been through at least one round of streamlining and cleaning-up under the “red tape reduction” initiative that Governor Little implemented. Now, House Speaker Mike Moyle (R-Star) has proposed a bill to do the same for all Idaho statutes. 

H14 would require state agencies to review all Idaho Code sections that relate to their jurisdiction for “unnecessary, obsolete, and outdated” provisions, and to report their recommendations for the removal or streamlining of such provisions to the Legislature by September 1, 2025. The Legislature will then consider these and any other proposals for removing unnecessary complexities and bureaucratic processes from Idaho Code in the 2026 regular session.

H14 was approved in the House State Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Brent Crane (R-Nampa) earlier this week. On Thursday, H14 was approved by the entire House on a vote of 68 – 0. H14 will now move to the Senate for consideration by the Senate State Affairs Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Tax Reduction Bill Introduced

 

 

On Thursday, House Speaker Mike Moyle (R-Star) introduced a bill to reduce the income tax in Idaho. Currently, both individuals and corporations pay Idaho income tax at a flat rate of 5.695% on all taxable income. The new bill (bill number was not yet available at time of publishing) seeks to reduce Idaho’s income tax rate to 5.3% for both individuals and corporations. Taxpayers would save approximately $240 million annually under the proposal.

The bill includes two additional provisions. First, it exempts all military retirement income for Idaho residents from income tax. According to Speaker Moyle, retirement income for all Idaho citizens is currently exempt from income tax if you are at least 65 years and for those who are disabled and at least 62 years old. There are several other states who either tax military retirement income at a much lower rate than Idaho, or they exempt it altogether. It was stated that this measure will allow Idaho to attract military personnel who are retired, but still interested in working.

Second, the bill would exempt gold and silver coinage and bullion from Idaho capital gains taxes. Currently, gold and silver are not subject to sales tax in Idaho when coins or bullion are bought or sold. Exempting gold and silver from capital gains taxes would move Idaho one step closer to allowing gold and silver to once again be used as money in Idaho.

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee, chaired by Rep David Cannon (R-Blackfoot), voted to introduce the bill. It will have a full hearing in the next week or so.

 

 

 

 

 

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Resources Available to Follow During Session:

Legislative Website Homepage: HERE

2025 Legislative Session Bill Center: HERE

List of Senate Committee Assignments: HERE

List of House Committee Assignments: HERE

Current Senate Committee Agendas: HERE

Current House Committee Agendas: HERE

Watch Committee Meetings and Floor Sessions Live: HERE

Governor’s Bill Action and Legislative Communications: HERE