Capitol Reflections

2017 Legislative Session

In this issue “I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That Crop Residue Burning, pg. 1 ‘the powers not delegated to the by the Constitution, nor Brand Inspection, pg. 1 New Committee Chair, pg. 2 prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to CALS presentation, pg. 2 the people.’ [10th Amendment] To take a single step beyond the boundaries HJR 5 , pg. 2 thus specifically drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession Livestock Traceability, pg. 3 of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible of any definition.” --Thomas Jefferson: Opinion on National Bank, 1791 Brand Crop Residue Burning – S1009 On Tuesday, the Senate Health and stakeholders, including the Idaho Farm Inspection Fees Welfare Committee held a print hearing Bureau, DEQ has presented the following State Brand Inspector, Larry Hayhurst regarding proposed changes to Idaho’s changes to the CRB program in S1009: recently told Farm Bureau that on January field burning laws. The Department of Statutory authority to allow DEQ to 26, the State Brand Board will hold a Environmental Quality (DEQ) presented a administer the CRB program to operate under budget meeting and will determine if they general overview of the proposed legislation the 2008 Ozone NAAQS during the 2017 need to increase the Brand Inspection fee. which would ensure that the State’s crop burn season, using the current burn approval The Brand Board is authorized by Idaho residue burning (CRB) program remains criteria. Code to charge up to $1.25 per inspection. effective and functional. Idaho Code 39- Come February 2018, and upon EPA The current fee charged is 94 cents, which 114 requires DEQ to assess air quality approval, adjusting Idaho’s CRB burn is set in the rules governing the Brand conditions prior to approving any open approval criteria from 75% to 90% of the Board. burning of crop residue. The statute states Ozone NAAQS. Mr. Hayhurst stated that if there is that air quality levels are not to exceed DEQ has stated that the number one a proposal to increase the fee from the 75% of any National Ambient Air Quality priority of this program is to ensure public Brand Board, it will be done through the Standard (NAAQS) and are not projected health, and the department is completely rulemaking process this summer and will to exceed such levels over the next 24 hours confident that these proposed changes meet not be a change in Idaho Code. Therefore, prior to approving any CRB event. that priority. Those interested in providing the maximum amount it can go up would In 2015, EPA changed the Ozone testimony to the committee members at the be 31 cents per inspection which is the NAAQS from 75 ppb to 70 ppb. DEQ hearing are invited to attend. The date for limit of their statutory authority. Mr. projected that this change would on average a full hearing has yet to be determined for Hayhurst plans to meet with the Idaho double, if not triple, the number of no- S1009. Farm Bureau Beef committee in February burn days during the burn season. This Idaho Farm Bureau Policy #70 states, at the Commodity Conference to discuss result would leave the state’s CRB program “We oppose air quality standards that are the Brand Board’s decision. unworkable and useless to farmers. For more strict than the current standards under this reason, and after receiving input from the CRB program.” IFBF supports S1009

Idaho Farm Bureau’s Governmental Affairs Report Issue 2 P.O. Box 167, Boise, ID 83701 www.idahofb.org (208) 342-2688 January 20, 2017 Page two Eight New Chair in House and Senate; Minority Leadership Changes in Both Houses The 2017 looks quite retirement of the long-time Chair Rep. Ken Administration Committee Chair, filling different from 2016 because of retirements Andrus (R-Lava Hot Springs). Rep. Christy the vacancy created by former Chair Rich and election defeats. Eight new committee Perry (R-Nampa) is now the chair of the Wills’ (R-Glenns Ferry) loss in the 2016 chair are one of the most notable changes; House Local Government Committee. primary election. six in the House and two in the Senate. She served as chair of the Ways and Means The Minority Party has experienced Sen. Jeff Siddoway (R-Terreton), former Committee in 2016. Rep. Robert Anderst changes in leadership as well. Sen. Senate Local Government and Taxation (R-Nampa) is the 2017 Ways and Means Maryanne Jordan (D-Boise) is 2017 Committee chair, now chairs the State Committee chair. Minority Caucus Chair, replacing Sen. Affairs Committee. This vacancy was Former Vice-chair of the Appropriations Grant Burgoyne (D-Boise). Three-term created when former Sen. Curt McKenzie Committee and five-term Representative, Representative, Mat Erpelding (D-Boise) (R-Nampa) retired from the senate to run Marc Gibbs (R-Grace) is the 2017 is the House Minority Leader, replacing for the Idaho Supreme Court. Senator Resources and Conservation Committee Rep. John Rusche (D-Lewiston) who lost Dan Johnson (R-Lewiston) replaces Sen. chair, replacing nine-term Rep. Dell in the 2016 general election. Rep. Ilana Siddoway as chair of the Local Government Raybould (R-Rexburg), who reassumed Rubel (D-Boise) replaces Rep. Erpelding as and Taxation Committee. the chairship of the Environment, Energy Assistant Minority Leader. House Minority The House Agricultural Affairsand Technology Committee from Rep. Caucus Chair is Elaine Smith (D-Pocatello) Committee is chaired now by former Vice- Jeff Thompson (R-Idaho Falls). Former who takes the place of Rep. Donna Pence chair and five-term Representative, Judy Local Government Chair, Rep. Lynn Luker (D-Gooding) who retire from the House in Boyle (R-Midvale) following the 2016 (R-Boise) is now Judiciary, Rules and 2016 after serving six terms. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Presentation Dr. Michael Parrella, Dean of the the dean’s top priorities. Dean Parrella also offer the agriculture, dairy, and food College of Agriculture and Life Sciences reported that the 4-H program is near full processing industries. Much of the focus (CALS) at the , gave operation again after the devastating losses of the center will be on the “back-half” a presentation to the House Agricultural of the great recession (2008-2009)that of the cow, or what leaves the cow. Dairy Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Dean significantly reduced the number of 4-H waste/byproduct and the management of Parrella shared with the committee some faculty members and employees. those nutrients is an important aspect of of his goals for CALS, including increasing The dean talked about the proposed these large livestock operations and will undergraduate enrollment in the college Center for Agriculture, Food and the be a primary focus of the research center. from current levels (approximately 1,000 Environment (CAFE) near Twin Falls The dean also hopes that the center will students) to 1,500 students within the next that the Governor included in the budget be a great place for collaboration by other three to five years. With little to no salary proposal. Dean Parrella explained the institutions and industry members, while increases for staff and faculty over the past unique aspects of the proposed research also being a potential recruitment tool for several years, this issue remains as one of center and the many benefits that it would the college. HJR5 is Moving Forward This past fall, Idaho votersaround HJR5 and either delete or change their word and moving forward to overwhelmingly voted to support HJR5, one or two words in a rule. implement exactly what they said which placed into the Idaho Constitution In fact, the legislative intent of the they would do. HB1 passed through the authority for the Legislature to review bill says: “The power of the Legislature to the House State Affairs Committee agency rules; and to accept or reject them, approve or reject a part of a rule applies this week and has also passed on the in whole or in part. only to the entirety of a provision, such House floor by a vote of 68-0. Rep. The Legislature is now updating Idaho as a subsection or a subparagraph, or to Tom Loertscher (R-Iona) was the floor Code to conform with the constitutional any new or amended language contained sponsor and is also the chairman of amendment. House Bill 1 (HB1) is in such a provision. The Legislature does the House State Affairs Committee. focused primarily on defining what “in not have the authority to reject certain and HB1 will now move to the Senate for whole or in part” means. The legislature select words or phrases that would alter the consideration where it is expected to wants to make it clear that they will not meaning or purpose of the entire rule.” pass easily. IFBF supports HB1 do what detractors said during the debate The Legislature is living up to Page three Livestock Traceability

The Governor has asked for a one-time days or even weeks under the current livestock to leave Idaho. These health supplemental appropriation of $750,000 system of paper health certificates that papers also report the vaccination status, for FY2017 to purchase software for are used when importing or exporting results of disease testing and unique use by the Brand Board and Idaho livestock, the new system would allow for animal identification number of each Department of Agriculture. This would trace-back within hours or even minutes animal tested or vaccinated, as well as the facilitate the electronic management of if there is a disease concern. name and address of the owner. animal identification numbers and other This would greatly speed up the process Clearly, this would be a huge job to data pertaining to livestock movements of identifying and testing other livestock sort through all the paper documents to into and out of the state. that have been in contact with a suspect identify a specific animal, much less to According to ISDA, this will better animal and would allow for quicker find those other animals that the suspect protect Idaho’s livestock industries by containment and/or quarantine if there is may have been in contact. The electronic establishing a faster, more comprehensive a disease risk. Each year Idaho receives process will save time and money in the and more reliable method to determine approximately 24,000 Certificates of long run, especially if an outbreak can the location and movements of individual Veterinarian Inspection allowing more be contained faster and result in fewer or groups of animals to mitigate the than 500,000 head of livestock to enter animals needing to be quarantined or spread of disease. Rather than taking Idaho and more than 600,000 head of destroyed.

How to Contact Legislators Website ...... www.legislature.idaho.gov Legislative Information Center...... 208-332-1000 Toll Free & TDD...... 800-626-0471 Fax...... 208-334-5397 E-mail...... [email protected] Regular Mail...... P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID ...... 83720-0038 (House) ...... 93720-0081 (Senate) Street Address...... State Capitol, 700 W. Jefferson, Boise, ID 83720