Capitol Reflections: 2025 Session, Issue 7

“On every question of construction, (let us) carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.” – Thomas Jefferson

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 video will help when you want a quick synopsis or to learn about the issues on the go.

State Wants to Purchase More Land

Despite the federal and state government controlling more than 70% of all the land in Idaho, the state of Idaho wants to purchase even more land. Farm Bureau members have significant concerns with this idea.

If the state wants to purchase lands from the federal government, we are all for it. The state is a much better steward of its lands than the federal government is, and their lands are more productive.

However, if the state wants to purchase even one more acre of privately owned land, Farm Bureau members adamantly oppose such efforts. With less than 30% of the state left in private ownership, we cannot afford to allow the private property in Idaho to shrink further. The prosperity of society is based upon privately owned lands and secure property rights. When government, or any other entity begins to erode those two pillars, the economy suffers and prosperity declines.

Unfortunately, H129 would provide additional opportunity for the state to purchase more privately owned lands. Currently, when the state sells any land, such as the cottage sites around Payette Lake in McCall, the money received from those sales goes into the land bank fund. 

The state is allowed up to five years to purchase property with those proceeds. If, after five years, the state has not purchased any property, the money must be transferred into the permanent endowment fund, where it provides earnings for the endowment beneficiaries. Once it is in the endowment fund, the principle can never be removed.

H129 extends the current time limit from five years to ten years, meaning the state has an even longer period to seek out private lands to purchase. Because of that, IFBF opposes H129 as IFBF policy #45 opposes any net loss of private property in Idaho.

According to IDL annual reports, state endowment lands have grown by more than 61,000 acres over the past ten years. Meanwhile, for the first time in recent memory, private property is now less than 30% of the state.  This trend is going in exactly the wrong direction.

If the sponsors of H129 amended it to reduce the amount of time available for the state to purchase land that is privately owned, while at the same time extending the time period to purchase lands from any government entity, Farm Bureau would support that effort since the state is better at managing the land than the federal government is.

Farm Bureau met with the sponsors of H129, Rep Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) and Rep John VanderWoude (R-Meridian) to seek an amendment to the bill. Unfortunately, the discussions were not fruitful, and H129 was approved by the House on a vote of 47-21. Besides the sponsors, Reps Jerald Raymond (R-Menan) and Rep Mark Sauter (R-Sandpoint) also spoke in favor of the bill.  H129 will now move to the Senate for Consideration.  IFBF opposes H129.

Idaho Ag. Summit

The Idaho Ag. Summit was held this week in Boise. The event brought farmers, ranchers, dairymen, industry partners, and representatives together to discuss challenges facing the industry.

Cody Lyon, Managing Director of Advocacy and Political Affairs with the American Farm Bureau Federation was the keynote speaker at this year’s event. He focused much of his comments on the changes that we are seeing in DC with the new Trump Administration and the challenges Congress is facing to pass many of their priorities in the coming weeks. Several top Farm Bureau priorities including an extension of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act provisions may be incorporated in the reconciliation process that is currently being negotiated. Other priorities like the Farm Bill and labor reform may come later this year. Other presenters covered new technologies and practices that we see being implemented throughout the agricultural industry to expand crop productivity, improve economic positions, and soil resources.

Each year the Summit recognizes industry leaders for years of service as part of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Agriculture. There are five award categories, those being: Education and Advocacy; Environmental Stewardship; Marketing Innovation; Technical Innovation; and Lifetime Achievement. This year, Dr. Michael Parrella (Education and Advocacy), Blake Matthews (Environmental Stewardship), Brent Olmstead (Marketing Innovation), Bill Flory (Technical Innovation), and Celia Gould (Lifetime Achievement) were recognized and awarded. For a list of all individuals who have received these awards in the past, visit https://www.idahoagsummit.org/past-recipients.html.

Protecting Idaho Sovereignty

H148 would provide a process for Idaho citizens involved in legal proceedings with the federal government concerning grazing and /or water rights to request state assistance and potentially funding from the Constitutional Defense Fund.

Although Congress has repeatedly declared that states are sovereign over water rights within their state, federal agencies have continued to assert jurisdiction or seek special privileges in states that are not constantly vigilant and don’t vigorously defend their sovereignty. 

H148 seeks to help level the playing field by providing a mechanism to cover attorney fees of an Idaho citizen when defending against the federal government, if the state government for some reason did not intervene or was not involved in the case.

To participate, a citizen has to apply to the Constitutional Defense Council indicating “why state assistance would be appropriate and what the interest of the state would be; a synopsis of the nature of the case and the procedural timeline, or court’s decision;” and other information that the council may require.

Under H148, the council is required to consider “the societal importance of the vindicated right; the necessity for private enforcement and accompanying burden on the petitioner; whether a significant amount of Idaho citizens stand to benefit from the court decision; whether the public interest would be served by state assistance or participation;” and whether state resources are available to assist.

This week the House Resources Committee sent H148 to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation. It will now be considered by the entire House before moving to the Senate.

IFBF policy #156.7 supports this concept. IFBF supports H148.

Wildlife Relocation Bill Introduced

A new bill, H195, sponsored by Representative Doug Pickett (R-Oakley), aims to establish stricter guidelines for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game before relocating or transplanting wildlife. The bill would require 30-day advance notice to county commissioners, public land permittees, and private landowners or leaseholders before any wildlife release, including animals raised in captivity. This would not include coyotes, jackrabbits, skunks, weasels, starlings, raccoons, or rattlesnakes. If any party submits written concerns within 10 days, county commissioners must hold a meeting to approve, amend, or reject the release. Additionally, the bill absolves livestock producers of liability if wildlife-to-livestock interactions result in disease transmission. IFBF Policy 69.1 states, “we oppose the relocation of wild game and non-game species without proper notice being given to residents and property owners in the area where they are released. Local county officials must receive official notice at least 30 days prior to any relocation or release into the wild of any species raised in captivity.”

Another key aspect of the bill is the addition of wolves being tested for communicable diseases that can be transmitted to livestock and that any wildlife that is used for tracking through methods such as collaring be tested. Wolves can be a carrier of several dangerous diseases to livestock herds including tapeworms and brucellosis and is best controlled when found in a live animal. IFBF Policy 78.5 states, “we support requiring when possible, all wolf carcasses to be presented for testing for communicable diseases, especially the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus which causes hydatid disease in livestock, elk, deer, and humans.” The bill is currently going through some redrafting to address technical corrections, but we look forward to the continuing engagement with the sponsor to move this bill through the process. IFBF Supports H195.

IFBF Legislative Intern – Jason Fellows

This week was Ag Week at the Capitol, a time when farmers, ranchers, and agricultural advocates come together to engage with policymakers and discuss the issues shaping Idaho’s agricultural future. The legislative session moves quickly, and decisions made here have long-term impacts on farming and ranching. Being involved in these conversations ensures that agriculture’s voice is heard and considered. 

Throughout the week, we worked on a variety of issues affecting Idaho agriculture. One major focus was Agricultural Protection Areas an effort to help safeguard farmland from unchecked development. As Idaho continues to grow, it’s important that local governments plan with agriculture in mind. Ensuring that farmland remains available for production is essential not just for farmers and ranchers but for the rural communities and economies that depend on them.

Water remains a significant topic of discussion, with conversations focused on balancing agricultural and residential water use. Policies regulating new domestic wells to in-home use only were a key part of the dialogue, especially in areas where agricultural well moratoriums are in place. Making sure we, as agriculturalists, are involved in these discussions helps shape policies that protect our water resources while allowing for responsible growth.

Another critical issue discussed was ag labor. Workforce shortages continue to challenge farmers and ranchers across the state, and we had important conversations about how to support policies that help producers find and retain a reliable workforce.  I was able to attend the Idaho Ag Summit, where speakers reinforced the importance of the Farm Bill in shaping agricultural policy. Programs that support conservation, risk management, and trade play a vital role in the success of Idaho agriculture. One comment that stood out during the discussions was the reminder to “measure twice, cut once,” a reflection on the need for careful, well-thought-out policy decisions that support agriculture in the long run. 

The power of involvement is one of the biggest takeaways from this week. I saw firsthand how relationships with elected officials make a difference. Sitting down with legislators, county commissioners, and other decision-makers helps ensure that agriculture remains a priority in Idaho’s policies. When those in office understand the realities of farming and ranching, they are better equipped to craft legislation that supports the industry. This is why it’s so important for county Farm Bureaus to invite local leaders to their meetings. The relationships built at the local level translate into stronger support for agriculture at the state level. This week, we saw clear examples of how these connections led to productive discussions and positive movement on key issues. 

Looking ahead as the session continues, it’s clear that Idaho’s farmers and ranchers must stay engaged in shaping policy. Issues like land use, water rights, and labor won’t be solved overnight, but having agriculture represented at the table ensures that solutions are crafted with input from those directly impacted. Advocacy isn’t just about attending meetings, it’s about making sure that agriculture’s story is told. By staying informed, building relationships, and working together, we can help ensure that Idaho’s farmers and ranchers have a strong voice in the decisions that shape our industry’s future. Farm Bureau continues to lead the way in these efforts, but it takes all of us to keep agriculture moving forward.

IFBF legislative Intern - Richard Durrant

What a great time to be in the capital! We spend all year working on issues we are dealing with on our farms and ranches. We vet them with other producers and counties throughout the state. These are proposed as resolutions, reviewed by counties and districts, and finally voted on at our House of Delegates in December. If they are approved, they are adopted as a policy, and it’s time to start the harvest at the legislature in January.

Our Governmental affairs team takes the information from our policy book and can work on new legislation. They also defend our policy against any proposed legislation, either way there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work going on. Every day there are meetings with House or Senate members, many different collaborative groups, making sure that we are part of the discussion of the agriculture issues of the state.

The resource available to us as members is the legislative link on our Farm Bureau webpage. It keeps us up to date on legislation, our position and where the bill is in the legislative process. As you look at the website you will see there are over 20 items, we have taken a position on, with several others still to come forward. Most of these take countless hours of behind-the-scenes work to provide information to legislators and other groups, which shows we have support from other groups that also could be impacted.

The highlight during my visit was S1012 on wildlife depredation. We had several members testify in favor of this legislation. I appreciate our members getting out of their comfort zone and testifying. As I sat through several committee meetings, my takeaways are remember to address the chairman, state your position in favor or against, give a brief experience of how you’ve been affected, and then close by thanking the chairman and restate your position and stand for any question from the committee.

The experience of being at the capital either for a couple of days or a full week provides in-depth information of what goes on behind the scenes at the capital. Our governmental affairs team puts you at ease, developing relationships with our legislatures on a personal level is the best asset we can have, and I hope each one of us has your own legislators phone numbers, it is important to be able to talk to other representatives throughout the state. I would encourage others to take time to be a Legislative intern.

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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