Week One of Idaho Legislature

2023 State of the State address given by Governor

State of the State
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​On January 9, Governor Brad Little laid out his priorities in the 2023 State of the State and Budget Address. Although many subjects were mentioned, the following will have the most impact on nonprofits:

• Workforce Development: Governor Little stated that the availability of skilled workers is the #1 challenge facing Idaho employers, which includes nonprofits. His plan provides $15 million from ARPA for childcare infrastructure grants that will be facilitated in partnership with Idaho employers.
  
  
• Mental Health: Governor Little is expanding the work done from the recommendation of the Behavioral Health Council with $100 million dedicated towards improving mental health services, specifically in rural areas.
  
  
• Tax Relief: Governor Little is proposing $120 million to offset local property taxes and to fulfill the 2022 income tax reductions that were supported by four out of five voters in Idaho.

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Read Entire Address

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​​Week one of Idaho Legislature is a wrap at the legislature, and it was quieter than we might have expected! Most of the legislation that has been introduced has been focused on abortion and/or the public sector. The slow start could be attributed to a learning curve for many of our elected officials, with 39 first-time state legislators and significant changes to legislative committees and chairs.
We anticipate the pace will ramp up quickly, and weeks two and three will surely have some proposed legislation that we will be keeping an eye on. Remember to bookmark our bill tracker to follow bills that impact the nonprofit sector.

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Potential Change to JFAC

A potential change is being proposed to the way the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee votes on state budgets at the committee level. Many Idaho nonprofits rely heavily on pass through funding or government grants, so we will continue to keep you updated on the topic. 

• Current System: the committee is made up of 10 members from the House and 10 members from the Senate. They vote as one committee on state budgets with a simple majority of 11 votes needed to advance to the floor.
  
  
• Proposed System: Speaker of the House, Mike Moyle, is suggesting they split the committee votes in two, requiring a budget to pass twice before it advances to the floor, with 12 total votes (six from the House and six from the Senate) required to pass. If it passes one vote but failed the other, it would fail, and a new budget would have to be put forward.
  
  
• Pros and Cons: Advocates of the proposed change feel it will increase certainty that budgets will pass once they get to the floor.
  
  Proponents fear it will make passing budgets out of committee overly burdensome.

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More About the Proposed Change

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Federal Updates

For some medium-large nonprofits (that employ 15 or more people) the following federal legislation could have an impact on your nonprofit:

• The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires employers, including nonprofits, with 15 or more employees to provide pregnant workers with reasonable accommodations like additional bathroom breaks or not having to carry heavy objects unless these accommodations would impose undue burdens on the employers. This law takes effect June 27.
  
  
• The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act requires employers, including nonprofits, with 50 or more employees to provide reasonable break time for employees who are nursing mothers to express milk. It also requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide nursing employees with a place other than a bathroom “that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public.” The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act took effect when the omnibus bill was signed into law in 2022.

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Stay Connected:

• Idaho Public Television offers Idaho In Session, a gavel-to-gavel service that includes live on-air and online coverage of the Idaho Legislature.
  
  
• You can also stay up to date on the latest legislative news on Idaho Reports, IdahoPTV’s weekly broadcast.
  
  
• Is there a state agency that relates to your mission? You can now search and find information pertaining to all state-affiliated commissions' public meetings at Townhall Idaho.

Idaho Nonprofit Center Policy Agenda

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The Idaho Nonprofit Center hosts trainings and webinars throughout the year. Find a subject that interests you today!

Program and Event Calendar