2015 Legislative Summary

This legislative scorecard is meant to be a resource for the Greater Falls business community. It is a reflection of the Chamber’s priorities and how they were addressed during the 2015 Idaho Legislative Session. The scorecard does not reflect the complexity of every issue that is addressed.  The Chamber was pleased with the 7.4% increase in education funding, which is 2/3 of the way back to 2015 Legislative Scorecard 2009 levels. Advocate ● Educate ● Network  The Legislators support for Professional Technical Education programs and education in general was tre- mendous this session.  The Chamber was disappointed in the lack of legislation for local option taxing authority and Medicaid reform.  The Chamber also felt that the Legislature missed an opportunity to explore the benefits that the creation of a State Gaming Commission could have provided, but pleased that a bill was introduced.  The Chamber is concerned with the state’s non-compliance with the federally mandated REAL ID ACT and the potential impact on business. The Chamber is relieved that the State was granted an extension to comply with the act.  The Chamber would have liked to have seen increased funding for the Idaho Commission on Aging.  The continued support for the Behavioral Health Crisis Center was applauded.  While steps were taken to provide increased funding for transportation infrastructure maintenance, the Chamber would have liked to have seen a more significant investment made to close the $260M funding gap. Legislative Key 2015 Legislative Priorities Report Card

H-96 Compliance Extension for Real ID Act The grades in this report are meant to show how the chamber’s priorities were impacted during H-172 Tax Reimbursement Incentive the 2015 Idaho Legislative Session. They do not necessarily reflect the interests or actions of H-248 Funding for the Idaho Commission on Aging regional legislators. Instead, they are meant to reflect how actions and legislation during the 2015 H-264 Funding for Behavioral Health Crisis Center session impacted these priorities. To learn more about the Chamber’s legislative priorities, please H-296 Career Ladder for Teacher Salaries visit www.idahofallschamber.com. H-302 Stem Action Center Grading Scale- Average Grade H-312a Transportation Funding A - Positive New Legislation D - Failure to Address HCR-17 Urban Renewal Study B - Positive Impact F - Negative Impact C S-1044 Eminent Domain for Greenways C - Status Quo S-1086 Professional Technical Education Economic Development & Taxation Grade S-1151 Professional Technical Education Funding S-1166 Idaho Opportunity Fund  Allow local units of government authority to adopt a local sales tax with voter S-1186 Education Funding approval in order to provide revenue for local economic development and D S-1192 Industry Sector Grants community infrastructure projects.

You can review every bill from the 2015 Idaho State Legislative  Preserve urban renewal as a chief economic development tool for Idaho’s Session, by visiting the ’sBill Center. municipalities, and oppose legislation that further restricts urban renewal law or B tax increment financing.

 Encourage Idaho to join the conversation to find a national solution to the issue Legislative Score of e-commerce and state sales tax collection. C

District Representative %  Support the reduction of business and individual income tax rates to assist in recruitment of new business to our community, to support the retention of C 30 Sen. Dean Mortimer 91% existing area businesses, and to make Idaho more competitive compared to surrounding states. 30 Rep. Jeff Thompson 92% 30 Rep. 92% Education

32 Sen. John Tippets 85%  Restore funding for Idaho’s public schools to at least 2009 levels. A-

32 Rep. 92%  Support providing school board members and superintendents the local control 32 Rep. Thomas Loertscher 83% needed to effectively govern their districts, maximize student achievement and A- fairly compensate educators. 33 Sen. Bart Davis 92%  Support increased funding for Professional Technical Education programs while 33 Rep. 92% leveraging private industry investment and considering workforce needs. A

33 Rep. 92%  Support implementation of K-Career educational initiatives that emphasize 34 Sen. Brent Hill 92% STEM education and high benchmarked educational standards in order to A narrow the skills gap and support workforce development. 34 Rep. Ronald Nate 50% 34 Rep. Dell Raybould 92% Health & Human Services Grade

 Implement a Medicaid alternative to provide necessary health insurance coverage for approximately 80,000 Idahoans who are currently ineligible for D coverage under Medicaid and ineligible for incentives to purchase coverage through the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange.

 Support the reform of Medicaid by addressing personal accountability and emphasizing health outcomes, provider accountability, and a funding tax D structure that does not negatively impact business.

 Support continued funding for the Behavioral Health Crisis Center pilot project in Idaho Falls as a model for potential future centers across the state. A

Looking Ahead to 2016  Support increased funding through the Idaho Commission on Aging for home The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce is already and community based services to provide the services necessary to enable our working with local officials and business leaders in increasing senior population to remain safely and independently in their homes, C preparation for the 2016 Idaho Legislative Session. The which in turn enables those seniors to continue to participate in the local Chamber hopes that next year’s session will look at economy. additional ways to fund the shortfall in annual transportation funding. The Chamber is hopeful that the Infrastructure & Transportation issue of local option taxing authority will be discussed and legislation will be put forward. The Chamber is  Support lowering of the super majority to 60% from the current 66 2/3% to always supportive of legislation that creates tools that assist our tax supported governmental entities, including school districts, with D pave the way for economic development in the region. the ability to pass the bonds necessary for investment in schools and The Chamber expects that in 2016 there renewed infrastructure. discussion regarding Medicaid reform.  Reform Idaho’s method of paying for transportation infrastructure maintenance, The Chamber is looking forward to the seeing the results repair and improvement from reliance on the gas tax to new, creative methods of the legislative committee that was appointed to study B- that are fair, equitable, effective and are paid for by all users of Idaho roads and urban renewal and urban renewal agencies. As yet bridges. another school bond failed by the narrowest of margins, the Chamber hopes the 2016 session will bring discussion Science, Technology & Energy about the lowering of the super majority for infrastructure bonds. The chamber will continue to take  Support legislation that allows regional transmission line extensions and up issues that impact the commercial, financial, connections to meet the increasing energy needs and ensure power delivery to C industrial, civic and social interests of our community. both public and investor owned utilities. Legislative Scorecard District Representative H- H- H- H- H- H- H- HCR- S - S- S - S - S - S - % 96 172 248 264 296 302 312A 17 1044 1086 1151 1166 1186 1192 30 Sen. Dean Mortimer + + + A + + + + - + + A + + 91% 30 Rep. Jeff Thompson + + + + + + + + - + + + + + 92% 30 Rep. Wendy Horman + + + + + + + + - + + + + + 92% 32 Sen. John Tippets + - + + + + + + - + + + + + 85% 32 Rep. Marc Gibbs + + + + + + + + - + + + + + 92% 32 Rep. Thomas Loertscher + + A + + + - + - + + - + + 83% 33 Sen. Bart Davis A + + + + + + + - + + + + + 92% 33 Rep. Janet Trujillo + + + + + + + + - + + + + + 92% 33 Rep. Linden Bateman + + + + + + + + - + + + A + 92% 34 Sen. Brent Hill + - + + + + + A + + + + + + 92% 34 Rep. Ronald Nate + + - - + + - + - + - - + - 50% 34 Rep. Dell Raybould + + + + + + + + - + + + + + 92%

Key If you are interested in learning more about the Chamber’s advocacy programs, please visit www.idahofallschamber.com or contact the + Vote in favor of chamber position Chamber directly at 208-523-1010. You can also email the Chamber at [email protected]. - Vote against chamber position A Absent for vote

425 N. Capital, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 ● Tel. 208-523-1010 ● www.idahofallschamber.com