The 68^th Legislature adjourned sine die on Friday, April 4. The session lasted 89 days with a focus on tax cuts but also included a passed bill affecting the Lobbyist Registration Act. House Bill 398 reorganizes the state’s Sunshine Laws by moving the lobbying provisions within Title 67, Chapter 66, State Government and State Affairs, to Title 74, Chapter 7, Transparent and Ethical Government. The bill also updates the definition of lobbying to clarify both direct and indirect efforts to influence covered officials are considered lobbying. The bill becomes effective July 1.

The Idaho legislative session has come to an end after being extended into the month of April.

Notable legislation passed and signed by Gov. Brad Little includes two campaign finance bills.

House Bill 664 issues guidelines for the use of synthetic media in electioneering communications and requires certain disclosures and disclaimers within such communications.

Senate Bill 1251 amends the definition of political committee by removing language exempting federal PACs from being considered a political committee.

This does affect lobbying reporting.

A lobbyist activity report will now be due on May 15 for the expenditures made during the month of April.

Lauren McLean, the incumbent, has been elected Mayor for the city of Boise once again.

McLean defeated Mike Masterson, the former police chief, after receiving more than 50% of the vote.

Masterson, who had spent over 40 years in policing, ultimately ended up conceded the race late last evening.

McLean also beat out candidates Joe Evans and Aaron Reis with neither garnering much of the vote.

The Idaho Legislature has adjourned after one day of deliberation, passing a $1 billion package to cut taxes and increase education funding.

The bill allocates $500 million in tax rebates to be distributed to all Idahoans who filed taxes in 2020; reduces the state income tax rate to 5.8% while exempting the first $2,500 of income for all filers; and assigns $410 million for education funding.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A lobbyist activity report for the month of September will be due October 15.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced a special session starting September 1, focusing on education funding and cutting taxes.

During the special session, legislators will debate a bill that features the largest tax cut and investment in education funding in the state’s history.

This special session comes on the heels of Idaho’s historic surplus, one that has the possibility of creating $2 billion.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A lobbyist activity report for the month of September will be due October 15.

The Idaho State Legislature adjourned sine die March 31.

The 81-day session focused mostly on infrastructure and education.

Starting the session with a nearly $2 billion surplus and billions in federal covid relief funds, lawmakers approved Gov. Brad Little’s “Leading Idaho” plan, providing $300 million to bolster k-12 public school budgets, a 7% increase in educator salaries, and funding an optional full-day kindergarten program.

Lawmakers also passed a bill modeled after the Texas abortion ban, the most restrictive abortion law in the country.

Planned Parenthood since filed a lawsuit with the Idaho Supreme Court requesting an injunction.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A lobbyist activity report will be due April 15, covering March 1 through March 31.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced he is appointing Muffy Davis to Blaine County Commissioner, replacing Jacob Greenberg who is retiring at the end of December.

Davis is the current Democratic representative from Idaho’s 26^th District.

Before being elected to the House in 2019 she was a seven-time Paralympic medalist in skiing and cycling.

Little will appoint a replacement from a submitted list provided by House Democrats sometime before the 2022 legislative session.

The Idaho Legislature adjourned November 17, ending the state’s longest-ever legislative session.

The House, in a unique political move, chose to go on an extended recess rather than adjourn to allow a return to session without being called back by the governor.

The three-day continuation focused on COVID-19 and the presidential mandates.

No bills were passed during the continuation, only a non-binding declaration stating opposition to President Biden’s vaccine requirements for federal workers, contractors, and large employers.

The House also censured Rep. Priscilla Giddings for her publicization of the name of the 19-year-old intern who reported she was raped by another legislator.

Speaker of the House Scott Bedke announced the Idaho Legislature will reconvene November 15 to address Federal Covid-19 rules for employers and consider an ethics complaint against Rep. Priscilla Giddings.

Normally, only Idaho’s Governor has the power to call a special session.

Instead of adjourning, the house called for an extended recess, a maneuver that allows the house to return to the regular session.

The Covid-related bill being considered would make it a misdemeanor for state or local government employees to implement President Biden’s Covid-19 rules in Idaho.

The Legislature will also consider censoring and removing Rep. Giddings from the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee.

The ethic complaint stems from Rep. Giddings sharing the name and picture of a 19-year-old legislative staffer who accused former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger of sexual misconduct.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

Idaho is slated to start its redistricting process this September.

Based on the most recent Census, Idaho gained an additional congressional district, bringing their total up to two.

Legislators will be tasked with dividing the state into two congressional districts and redrawing the state’s 35 legislative districts.

Legislative and party leaders appoint six members, three Republicans and three Democrats, to the Citizen Committee for Reapportionment to approve the newly drawn maps.

It takes at least four votes to approve a map.

Once the Citizen Committee for Reapportionment holds its first meeting, it has 90 days to adopt the newly drawn maps.

The Boise City Council will vote on the creation of geographic districts for the November 2021 City Council elections.

In 2020, Idaho lawmakers passed a bill requiring all cities with a population of more than 100,000 to create legislative districts for council elections.

Boise City Council seats 1, 3, 5 will be up for election, and elected council members will serve two-year terms.

The districts must be approved before the state-mandated deadline of 120 days before council elections.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little appointed Lori McCann to fill the vacant seat in state House District 6.

McCann’s term began May 17 and will continue until the next general election when the term of office expires.

The seat was vacated by Aaron von Ehlinger, who resigned amid sexual misconduct and rape allegations.

On May 12, the Idaho Senate adjourned and the House of Representatives voted to recess ending the longest legislative session in Idaho’s history.

Passed legislation included campaign finance bills to prohibit foreign political contributions, enable candidate contribution transfers from one seat to another, and require statement of expenditures to include the identity of the candidate or measure passed.

Lawmakers also passed a bill allowing the Legislature to convene in special session.

Idaho State Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger resigned Thursday following rape and sexual misconduct allegations.

The Legislature’s ethics committee voted unanimously to find von Ehlinger’s actions constituted “conduct unbecoming.”

The committee also advanced a motion to censure, suspend pay, and expel him from the Capitol.

The local legislative committee for Lewis and Nez Perce counties must nominate up to three people to fill the seat within 15 days for Gov. Little to choose from to serve out the rest of the term through 2022.