Your Guide To The 2013 Idaho Legislature

Background

Emilie Ritter Saunders / StateImpact

Idaho's Senate Chamber sits empty nine months out of the year. Lawmakers typically in session from Jan. until late March or early April.

This page will no longer be updated. For future coverage of Idaho’s legislature go to Boise State Public Radio’s website.

Idaho’s 2013 Legislature convened in Boise on January 7. We’ve put together a guide to the session, including ways to contact your lawmaker, how to get involved, and comprehensive information about the people elected to office.

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February 7, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies Sold In Idaho? There’s A Tax On That

For cookie connoisseurs, this might be the best time of year. It’s Girl Scout cookie season. Starting next week, Idaho Girl Scouts will be canvassing neighborhoods and their parents’ offices to take orders for boxes of Thin Mints, Samoas, and all the rest. Each box sells for $3.75, and 22 cents of that goes to […]

February 6, 2013

There Are “A Lot Of Questions” On The Personal Property Tax, Says Rep. Collins

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter made a little news yesterday with his uncertainty about whether lawmakers will come up with a plan for phasing out or eliminating the state’s tax on business personal property. “Whether we’re going to get anything done this year or not, I can’t predict that,” he said. He was speaking to county […]

February 5, 2013

The Ideological Tug-Of-War Continues Over Creating An Idaho Health Insurance Exchange

The debate among Idaho lawmakers started in earnest today over whether the state should create its own health insurance exchange. At its heart, the debate is an ideological one: does Idaho work within the confines of the federal health care law to establish its own exchange? Or, does Idaho continue to fight the law and […]

Governor Otter: Lawmakers May Not Come Up With A Personal Property Tax Plan This Year

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter this morning told a crowd of county officials he’s not sure the Legislature will be able to come up with a plan to eliminate Idaho’s personal property tax. “Whether we’re going to get anything done this year or not, I can’t predict that,” he said. “There’s probably more options out there […]

February 4, 2013

Lobbying Efforts Heat Up As Idaho’s Health Insurance Exchange Hearing Is Scheduled

Idahoans will have a chance to weigh in on whether the state should create its own health insurance exchange tomorrow at the Capitol. The Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee will spend Tuesday and Thursday hearing the health insurance exchange bill written by the Governor’s administration. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter reversed course late last year […]

February 1, 2013

Answer These 11 Questions And You’ll Get Why Idaho Businesses Gripe About The Personal Property Tax

To understand this better, let’s look at some common items you might find in one kind of Idaho business: a diner. Can you figure out which of these things are considered “personal property” for tax purposes? Take our quiz.

January 31, 2013

How Your County Gets And Spends Money, And What That Means For Idaho’s Personal Property Tax Debate

One of the chief problems with eliminating or phasing out Idaho’s business personal property tax is that it deals a blow to local government. Taxes on real and personal property are a significant revenue source for counties. That same property tax base also supports schools, hospitals, libraries and other services through designated levies. We’ve recently […]

January 30, 2013

Pockets Of Support For Parts Of Failed Education Laws

Three bills have been introduced in the Idaho Legislature that resurrect pieces of the education laws voters rejected last November. Boise State Public Radio reports the Idaho School Boards Association is pushing for three new measures that deal with union bargaining. The new bill would bring back open meetings for labor negotiations. The same bill […]

January 28, 2013

A 7-Year Plan To Phase Out Idaho’s Personal Property Tax? Not Quite

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter began and ended his talk to the Idaho Chamber Alliance this morning by cheering Chobani, the Greek yogurt manufacturer that opened a plant in Twin Falls last month. But the real subject of his talk was the 2013 legislative session, and his priorities for the months ahead. One of those priorities […]

January 25, 2013

Nixing Personal Property Tax Would “Devastate” One Eastern Idaho County

This week, we’re devoting some time to understanding Idaho’s business personal property tax. Ending that tax is a priority for the governor and some of the state’s biggest businesses. But it generates millions for local government. Yesterday, we explained what the personal property tax is. Today, we go to Power County, in eastern Idaho. Local […]

Your Guide To The 2013 Idaho Legislature

Background

The Basics

Exploring the Demographics of Idaho’s 2013 Legislature

What Lawmakers Are Saying

State of the State Address