Trump Fever!

Trump Fever!

 

 

By Idaho Representative Heather Scott

 

Something is happening around our country and in our state and it’s contagious. There is a spirit of hope that We the People can turn our recent out-of-control government back towards a direction that more closely resembles the one laid out in our Constitution.  With common sense and hard work, we are regaining control of bureaucracies, government spending, and nonsense ideologies that have blanketed this nation.

 

Many Idaho legislators have caught this fever and the recent 2025 legislative session has been the best session in memory for liberty and freedom wins!  As promised, I wanted to highlight what I believe are some of the biggest wins and changes in Idaho law that may interest you. Please share this information with other Idaho citizens and remember this is not a complete list of all bills passed. You can view all the 2025 legislation on the state website.

 

Below are some highlights:

 

 

Tax Relief, Tax Policy & Economic Development Legislation

General & Sales/Use Tax

  • H93 Parental Choice Tax Credit: Creates a refundable education‑expense credit and advance‑payment fund.
  • H144 Small‑Seller Exemption: Waives sales/use‑tax collection for micro‑sellers.
  • H231 Food‑Tax Credit Boost: Raises the credit to $155 and allows an alternative credit for actual taxes paid.
  • H381 Deduction Substantiation Notices: Requires the Idaho State Tax Commission to notify taxpayers when documentation is needed.
  • H457 Pet‑Adoption Fees: Exempts certain shelter/rescue fees from sales/use tax.

Income Tax

  • H40 Precious‑Metals & Rate Cut: Excludes bullion capital gains, lowers the top rate, and exempts some military retirement pay.

Property Tax

  • H130a Hospital Exemption: Property tax exemption for hospitals is not automatic, and will be determined by the equalization board. It may be full, partial, or no exemption at all.
  • H304 Property‑Tax Relief Package: Transfers funds to school/facilities and homeowner‑relief accounts.
  • H316 Homestead ID Verification: Requires an Idaho ID or Idaho driver’s license to claim the exemption.
  • H354 Assessment & Homestead Changes: Revises market‑value assessment rules and homestead calculations.
  • H355a Tax‑Deferral Program: Clarifies deferrals can be done for more than the current year.
  • H109 SNAP soda/candy exclusion for welfare. Protects taxpayers from paying for junk food
  • H177 Gold & silver legal tender. Recognizes precious metals as money
  • H120, H121a and H122 Barbers & Cosmetologists: Drops licensure for thermal styling, makeup artistry, and makeover/glamour photography.
  • H149 Residential Mortgage Practices: Adds consumer‑privacy protections.
  • H153 Electrical Licensing: Allows dual master‑electrician and journeyman licenses.
  • H323 Finance: Shields vulnerable adults from financial exploitation.

 

 

Education & Parental Rights Legislation

  • H352 Parent bill of rights in education. Guarantees parental control
  • S1044 Cursive‑writing proficiency. Keeps cursive in classrooms
  • H175 Advanced Opportunities for homeschool. Expands scholarship access
  • H93 School choice Portable education funding
  • H041a Flag‑display. Removes ideological flags from schools.
  • H96 Flag‑display. Removes ideological flags from government property
  • H239 Opt‑in human‑sexuality curriculum Ends automatic sex‑ed enrollment
  • H240 Campus Speech Protection: Guarantees certain speech rights.
  • H396 School Transportation Funding: Allows alternative vehicles for pupil transport.
  • H397 Civics Test Revision: Updates and strengthens civics‑test requirement.
  • S1007a School‑Board Public Comment: Removes agenda‑only limit on public comment.
  • S1032 Student Device Policy: Requires policies on student electronic‑device use.
  • S1046a Human Growth & Development: Adds instruction guidelines requiring fetal‑development video instruction.
  • S1092a Lifetime Teaching Certificates: Creates lifetime certificates for an Idaho certified teacher or administrator if they accumulate at least twenty-five years of experience
  • S 198a Higher‑Ed Freedom of Inquiry: Protects academic inquiry.

 

 

Public Health & Medical Freedom Legislation

    • H26 ABLE Accounts: Creates Idaho ABLE program and an advisory council.
    • H38 Insurance Guaranty Association: Modernizes life‑and‑health guaranty provisions.
    • H59a Medical Ethics Defense Act: Shields providers who decline procedures on ethical grounds.
    • H91 DH&W Code Cleanup: Repeals obsolete Health & Welfare statutes.
    • H134 Breast‑Cancer Screening: Requires no‑cost annual supplemental screening.
    • H136a 340B Drug‑Pricing Transparency: Adds reporting rules for insurers/hospitals.
    • H20 EMS Realignment: Moves Emergency Medical Services oversight to the Idaho Military Division.
    • H243a Day‑care Licensing: Updates staff‑to‑child ratios and other license standards.
    • H345 Medicaid Plan Amendments: Subjects waivers/plan changes to legislative approval (fiscal in S 1201).
    • S1038 WHO Mandate Non‑Enforcement: Bars state enforcement of WHO directives.
    • S1058 Safe Haven Act Update: Revises placement rules for abandoned infants to allow immediate adoption and keep them out of foster care.
    • S1210a Idaho Medical Freedom Act: Forbids any entity from requiring medical interventions. This is the first law like this nationwide!
    • S1211 Ivermectin OTC: Allows over‑the‑counter sale of ivermectin.

 

 

Criminal Justice & Public Safety Legislation

    • H7 Uniform Controlled Substances: Sets a $300 mandatory minimum fine for first‑time possession (≤ 3 oz. marijuana).
    • H37 Methods of Execution: Makes firing squad the primary execution method for death row inmates.
    • H83a Immigration: Criminalizes illegal entry/presence, re‑entry after deportation, and trafficking of dangerous illegal aliens; mandates local–federal cooperation; adds sentence enhancements.
    • H159 Child Protective Act: Lets a child remain with a safe parent/guardian when neglect or abuse is alleged against the other.
    • H270 Indecent Exposure: Expands the offense to include exposed breasts.
    • H 71a Advertising Illegal Drugs: Bans ads for illegal drugs.
    • H380 Aggravated Lewd Conduct with a Minor: Creates two new crimes and allows the death penalty when the victim is ≤ 12 years old and aggravating factors exist.
    • S1019 False Reports of Violence: Penalizes false reports of violence/emergencies (Anti‑SWAT)
    • S1099 Vehicular Manslaughter (Repeat DUI): Requires a mandatory minimum sentence for repeat DUI offenders who commit manslaughter.
    • S1120 Crisis Response for Neurocognitive Disorder: Clarifies “imminent danger” so police can detain individuals with neurocognitive disorders.
    • S1139 POST Council Certification: Allows POST to certify individuals with certain non‑violent, non‑sexual felony convictions.
    • S1001 Anti‑SLAPP free‑speech shield Stops lawsuit abuse
    • S1171 – Abortion civil action Enables private lawsuits

 

 

Natural Resources, Transportation, Agriculture Legislation

    • H226 Mines & Mining Reform: Updates line‑license taxes, reclamation funding, and creates an advisory panel.
    • H389 Uncontrolled Fires on Federal Land: Declares such fires a nuisance, enables cost‑recovery, and lets the Governor deploy state resources.
    • S1013 Trapping Education: Requires mandatory education/licensing for certain trappers.
    • S1033 Right to Farm Act: Protects lawfully conducted agricultural operations from meritless lawsuits or complaints.
    • Penalizes bad‑faith complaints against ag operations.
    • S1061 Water‑Law Methodology: Refines how “material injury” is determined in conjunctive‑management orders.
    • S1084 Water Supply Bank: Restarts the forfeiture clock when a water right leaves the bank.
    • S1170 Ore Processing by Cyanidation: Sets environmental standards for cyanide leach operations.
    • S1183 Wildfire Standard of Care Act: Defines electric‑utility liability standards for wildfires.
    • H13a UTV Helmets: Waives helmet rule for UTVs with roll cages and seat belts.
    • H174a Towing Practices: Standardizes towing rules across agencies and industry.
    • H204 Idaho Potatoes Plates: Creates black and white “World Famous Idaho Potatoes” specialty plates.
    • H205 Passing‑Lane Overtake Speed: Allows briefly exceeding the posted limit when passing.
    • S1105a Don’t Tread on Me Plates & Idaho Firearms Safety Education Committee.
    • S1144 Highway Design Limits: Bars lane‑reduction projects and restricts bike/ped upgrades unless incidental.
    • H82 Livestock Depredation Claims: Pays depredation claims that are deemed possible.
    • S1012 Idaho Depredating Wildlife Appeals Board: Creates the board and exempts it from open‑meeting rules.

 

 

General Government, Accountability & Sovereignty Legislation

      • H32 Mask Mandates: Prohibits any government‑imposed mask mandate. Limits emergency powers
      • H06 AG investigations of local gov’ts. Adds state oversight
      • S1031 Limits health‑district powers. Checks unelected agencies
      • H222 Publish rules & policies online. Transparency for executive agencies.
      • H4 Idaho Code Cleanup Act: Strips obsolete statutes.
      • H86 Building Code (EV Chargers): Bars mandatory EV‑charger installations.
      • H97 Disaster Preparedness: Lets residents voluntarily refuse evacuation orders.
      • H330 Historic Theaters Alcohol Sales: Allows beer/wine sales in historic movie theaters.
      • S1141a Public Camping/Sleeping Ban: Prohibits camping on specified public property.
      • H278 Election Deadlines & Vacancies: Adjusts timelines and vacancy procedures.
      • H310 Ballot Anti‑Fraud Measures: Imposes additional ballot‑security steps.
      • H339a Voter‑Roll Accuracy: Sets new registration‑accuracy rules.
      • H377 Recall Elections: Tweaks recall rules for district‑elected city‑council members.
      • H398 Lobbyists: Overhauls lobbyist registration and regulation.
      • S1117 Initiative Fiscal Impact Updates: Requires updated fiscal notes for initiatives.
      • H235 – “Appeal to Heaven” license plates Faith‑based plate option.

Resolutions & Memorials

    • HCR2 Boise State Volleyball Commendation.
    • HCR11 Youth Entrepreneurship Support.
    • HCR05 Fauci state‑crime resolution Declares federal misconduct
      • HJR4 Constitutional Ban on Drug Legalization (Legislature retains sole authority).
      • HJR6 English as Official Language Amendment.
      • SCR102 COVID‑19 Response Study Committee.
      • SCR103 Housing Land‑Use Study Committee.
      • SCR105 Support for Federal Adoption Funds.
      • SCR110 Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Recharge Goal endorsement.
      • SJM101 New Water‑Storage Projects (including possible Teton Dam rebuild).

 

 

I am blessed to be co-chair of the Idaho Freedom Caucus, a group of likeminded legislators who are committed to our vision for Idaho.  The Caucus sponsored 62 bills that became law in 2025.  We are effective and we are having a positive impact for Idaho.

 

Have a blessed Resurrection Weekend!

In Liberty,

 

Rep. Heather Scott

208-920-3120

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