Education
Today the Boise School District is holding a bond election to support an Educational Facilities Master Plan to reinvest in our neighborhood schools and community with no increase in the current property tax rate. The bond will help meet the needs of today's students and the students of the future by reinvesting in our schools and in our communities.
HB 271, a Democrat bill intended to help rural districts attract and retain teachers, was introduced in the House and will now be considered by the House Education Committee. This bill would provide money for a student loan-forgiveness program for teachers who choose to teach in rural areas. Eligible teachers would receive $3,000 per year for as many as four years to repay student loans.
SB 1103 would move school board trustee elections to the November ballot in even years, putting nonpartisan school board trustee elections on a very partisan ballot. It would also require the county to match trustee zones with precincts, which is not an easy task. Another problem with the bill is school districts begin their fiscal year in July. Moving the current May elections until November would handicap our trustees.
Public Lands
Despite the rain, several thousand Idahoans gathered at the Capitol on the 4th in support of our public lands. Many hikers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts are concerned that attempts by some in the state to gain control over federal lands could ultimately result in private ownership of the land, and reduced access for the general population.
Idaho's Changing Climate
Fellow District 18 legislator, Representative Ilana Rubel is hosting a public hearing on Idaho's changing climate on Wednesday, March 15th at 3:30 p.m. in the Capitol's Lincoln Auditorium.
Please join legislators, scientists and business leaders from around Idaho in examining how changing climate conditions are impacting agriculture, fire activity, water, wildlife, recreation and our economy. Learn how we can address the problem and what you can do to make a difference.
Contact Representative Ilana Rubel with questions:
Able Act
HB41, a piece of legislation which involves savings accounts for disabled Idahoans, passed in the Senate 29-6. The bill, which is now on its way to the Governor's desk to be signed into law, allows those with disabilities to open an Able account and save up to $14,000 per year or $100,000 in total. Currently if someone with a disability saves more than $2,000 per year they will lose eligibility for programs such as social security or Medicaid. The issue with this is that many people of the disabled community need to save money for repairing or replacing old equipment, paying for dental costs (something Medicaid does not cover), or in some instances saving to buy a car or house.
Funding for our transportation needs appears to be "the going home" bill. There are currently two bills being considered. The first bill would create approximately $530 million for roads and bridges. It would allow the state to issue $300 million in bonds for roads to be repaid with future federal highway funds. It has several other parts: $200 million from surplus state general funds, 1% of the state's general fund going to Idaho State Police (this would free up $17 million for roads and bridges), and it would exempt sales tax on road materials. If this proposal fails, a second bill for $300 million in state bonds would be considered. Both proposals target 12 projects, including I-84 through Ada and Canyon counties and a new Snake River crossing near Twin Falls.
We are offering a tour of the Capitol on March 18th at 2 p.m. Please meet us in the basement Rotunda of the Capitol.
