1/19/22 Legislative Watch

Updates on Issues Discussed in the Past Legislative Watch:

• OSHA Vaccination Requirement: The Supreme Court reinstated the stay of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard. This means that employers are not currently obligated to comply with OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard.
  • Things may change after further review from the courts.

Read More About OSHA

Happening Now in Idaho

Relevant legislative introductions this week:

• H0436: Amends income tax rates. 
  • Nonprofit impact: As nonprofits do not pay corporate income tax, there would be no anticipated effect from this bill on a nonprofit’s bottom line.
• H0440: Amends existing law to provide that freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity is a civil right.
  • Nonprofit impact: Idaho organization Add the Words is leading efforts and if passed, all nonprofit employers will need to comply. 
• H0441: Adds to existing law to provide for absentee ballot assistance at certain facilities and to prohibit certain actions.
  • Nonprofit impact: As many care facilities are nonprofits, this may affect them. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

2: Idaho Democrats Test positive for COVID-19 on day 3 of the Legislative Session
Rep. John Gannon and Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking both left the Statehouse last week after learning of a positive COVID-19 status after testing as a precaution.

Last year, the Legislature shut down for two weeks after a COVID-19 outbreak, costing taxpayers $318,000. 

Read More About the Positive COVID-19 Status

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Idaho Legislature is Back in Session!

To stay up to date on what is happening in the 2022 Legislation and for more information, visit legislature.idaho.gov.

• Find the House Committee Agendas here
• Find the Senate Committee Agendas here
• You can access live audio/video streaming of sessions here

We will be hard at work tracking and educating on each bill that is relevant to nonprofits. Stay tuned!

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Stay Connected with the Idaho Legislature: Idaho In Session & Idaho Reports

​Idaho Public Television offers Idaho In Session, a gavel-to-gavel service that includes live on-air and online coverage of the Idaho Legislature. Meetings of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) and all other committees will be available online at idahoptv.org/insession.
Now in its 50th season, Idaho Reports, IdahoPTV’s weekly legislative news show, continues to bring viewers state government news and analysis, including updates on education, taxes and voter initiatives, and the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic each Friday at 8 PM. Look for Idaho Reports in audio form wherever you find your favorite podcasts, and read breaking news updates on the Idaho Reports blog at blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org.