Legislative Session Review: Idaho

Idaho adjourned its 2018 legislative session sine die on March 28, when Governor Butch Otter (R) finished acting on bills sent to his desk from the regular session. The highlights of this year’s session included one of the most significant tax cuts in the state’s history and the adoption of language updating science standards for Idaho schools. Still, the legislature twice refused to vote on legislation that would have dealt with the state Medicaid gap.

Legislative Highlights

• Lawmakers passed one of the largest tax cuts in state history, totaling nearly $200 million for corporations and families. According to state officials, the general fund will see a decrease of nearly $105 million next year. Accompanying this tax cut is House Bill 463, which calls for reducing brackets for personal income tax rates and corporate tax rates. This bill also establishes an Idaho child tax credit.
• The legislature approved K-12 science education standards that adopted temporary provisions with references to climate change. This has been a point of contention in the legislature for a few years, but the state Senate Education Committee voted to adopt the proposed science standards, essentially laying the issue to rest.
• Governor Otter’s plan to lower healthcare premiums was met with great opposition from the state legislature, dying twice in the House. The governor’s plan could have allowed half of Idahoans to obtain coverage through subsidies for private insurance through the state insurance exchange. One of the proposed measures would have moved roughly 3,000 of the sickest Idahoans to Medicaid programs.

Election Preview

Idaho voters head to the polls on November 6 to elect a new governor to replace Governor Otter, who has declined to run for a fourth term. There are currently three Democrats and seven Republicans on the ballot. Idaho has had a Republican governor and majority in both houses since 1995, so it is likely that the Republican primary on May 15 will prove to be a contentious race. Current Lieutenant Governor Brad Little (R) is among the candidates vying for the GOP gubernatorial nod.

On November 6, voters will also elect a new lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, controller, and superintendent of public instruction. Finally, every state legislative seat in Idaho is up for re-election in 2018. Both the House and Senate serve two-year terms.