IDAHO DISTRICT 3 LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER FROM REP. VITO BARBIERI

Friends and Constituents of District 3 –

We are heading into the final stretch of the legislative session. The last several weeks always bring a groundswell of activity, so if you have a question or hear about an issue we’re discussing, do not hesitate to contact me.

I continue to work on the statutory authority of the Legislature to review and reject rules of the state agencies. I have one bill passed out of the house that further tightens that authority. If we can get it out of the Senate and get the governor to sign it, the agencies must legitimize the necessity and reasonableness of Rule Chapters. One additional bill I’m working on requires that reviewing magistrates must interpret the meanings of words in rules in favor of individual liberty and restricting agency power. That has yet to get out of the House, but we are getting closer!

You’ll be happy to hear that many other top issues are being discussed this session. A few good bills have passed, and we will keep working to pass sound conservative legislation. In addition to strengthening school choice options, we are also addressing artificial intelligence (AI), protecting our children against obscene material, and ensuring integrity and transparency in our elections.

These are top concerns in our communities, and we are taking action to protect our values and Idaho way of life.

2024 Idaho GOP Presidential Caucus

Thank you to everyone who participated in our presidential caucus! This was an excellent opportunity for the grassroots members of our state and our party to make their voice heard for a candidate. Overwhelmingly, Kootenai County, and the remainder of Idaho correctly selected Donald J. Trump as our nominee to take on Joe Biden and the Democrat swamp.

Please see below for a more detailed review of our current work in the Legislature.

Sincerely,

Representative Vito Barbieri
Idaho House of Representatives
Legislative District 3

HB 599 – Anti Ballot Harvesting

– Co Sponsor –

This legislation addresses the issue of “ballot harvesting” – which is the practice of third party individuals and groups, many of them political activists or political parties, “harvesting” absentee or mail ballots from voters and then delivering them to election officials for processing and counting. This legislation would generally prohibit this practice by limiting ballot handling to those authorized to do so pursuant to Idaho law. Idaho has not historically experienced ballot harvesting at scale. However, it has become a widespread practice in some other states, where its practice places many voters’ ballots, and the sanctity of their vote, into the hands of those who may have a partisan interest in the election’s outcome.

These individuals may have a political incentive to deliver certain ballots to the county clerk, but not others, based on the ballot harvester’s perception, or a social/political database’s report, of the likely choices of the voter. The specifics of this legislation are informed by the recommendations of the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, in their 2005 report, Building Confidence in U.S. Elections. This legislation would limit ballot handling to election officials, U.S. Mail and common carrier employees and contractors, family members, caregivers, members of the voter’s household, and anyone hired by the voter to convey the ballot.

HB 493 – Mask Mandates

The purpose of this legislation is to prevent the State of Idaho, its political subdivisions, or any state officers from mandating the use of face masks, face shields, or other face coverings to prevent or slow the spread of a contagious or infectious disease; it also provides relevant definitions.

HB 568 – Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council

This legislation establishes an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Council. The council includes six members: one House member, one Senate member, and then four AI experts/professionals. The Office of Information Technology Services will serve as a technical advisor to the council. Council members will be responsible for reviewing existing applications of AI in state government and identifying potential state-level AI policies for consideration by the legislature and the governor.

HB 521 – School Facilities & Tax Relief

This legislation provides investment in school facilities and income tax reductions.

First, it dedicates $125 million in ongoing sales tax revenue to the new School Modernization Facilities Fund for bonding, while providing the legislature with expanded options to cover annual service on the bonds in the event of economic downturns.

Second, this legislation increases the funding to the School District Facility Fund in two ways. It increases the sales tax revenue directed to the fund from 2.25% to 3.25% which is projected to be $25 million in FY 2025, and redirects existing lottery dividends to the fund, which is projected to be approximately $50 million in FY2025. This fund will help school districts with paying down school bonds, levies, and plant facility levies, with any remaining funds being used at the district level for additional school facility projects.

Third, this legislation reduces income taxes from 5.8% to 5.695%, allowing Idahoans to have more money to better support local bonds and levies related to school facilities. Additional changes and technical edits are made to related Code provisions.

Combined, this bill provides state support for school facility improvements in every school district in the state while ensuring appropriate accountability for the funds.