Legislative Update

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As the Second Regular Session of the 67th Idaho Legisature comes to an end, I wish to express what an honor and a privilege it is to serve the good people of Legislative District 35 in the Idaho State Senate.   I have the privilege of serving on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, the Senate Resources and Environment Committee, and the Senate State Affairs Committee. And I was also re-elected by my fellow Senators to serve in a leadership capacity as the Senate Majority Caucus Chair.

The 2024 Legislative Session has been a very busy Session!  There were nearly 700 pieces of legislation offered for consideration.  Following is a small portion of the legislation I sponsored and supported —

Lately, the Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) has been struggling to perform electrical and plumbing inspections in a timely manner.   Representative Jon Weber (LD-34) and I sponsored House Bill 478 (H478) to help with  this problem.  The bill gives the option of local county government to perform inspections instead of waiting for the State to show up.  Local government and industry have wanted this option change for a while, and this bill should speed up and improve the inspection process for contractors and the Idahoans they serve.  It is important to note that the inspection standards will not change.

Representative James Petzke (LD-21) and I sponsored House Bill 404 (H404) this Session.  Some people, including anti-hunting activists, through public record requests have been using the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s trail camera locations to track and find big game.  H404 is designed to prevent these “bad actors” from using public record requests to get individual location data on wildlife.  This bill will protect the harassment of wildlife and preserve legal and ethical hunting.  The bill will also shield private property owners from trespassers
and harassment.  

Working with the American Suppressor Association, I was able to write and sponsor Senate Joint Memorial 104 (SJM104).  Currently, gun suppressors are heavily regulated under the prohibition era National Firearms Act of 1934.  SJM104 expresses the desire of Idaho gunowners, sportsmen, and hunters to encourage the United States Congress to pass the Hearing Protection Act that will allow Idaho’s law-abiding gun owners to protect their hearing by purchasing a suppressor while enjoying their shooting sports activities.  We also have many businesses in Idaho that manufacture suppressors and support SJM104. SJM104 passed both the Senate and the House.  The bill was also supported by the National Rifle Association (NRA). 

Another issue I have spent a lot of time working on is pesticide legislation.  It has been met with consideration political opposition.  It came about because of the many financially debilitating lawsuits that have been in the news over the last few years as pesticide companies, including Caribou County’s Bayer phosphate mining operation, has been sued for billions of dollars.  For the past six years, tort litigation centered around pesticide warning labels and has created  uncertainty about whether U.S. products will  continue  to be  available for  our U.S.-based agricultural industries.  How much can these companies lose to out-of-control judge and jury settlements before they must shut down and go elsewhere?

The issue locally is the fact that Soda Springs is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that mines and manufactures elemental phosphorus.  Bayer employs 800 of our friends and neighbors — their kids attend our schools; our local hospitals, doctors, and nurses take care of them when they are sick; and they buy groceries and other products in our local stores.  These good people also volunteer in our communities and churches.  In addition, the products created by Bayer are used by nearly every farmer in Idaho and throughout the United States.  The sugar beet industry would cease to exist without pesticides.  Without Bayer, we would be forced to get the products we use to grow food from Communist China placing our food supply and our national security at risk.  China and Vietnam are the only other places in the world that mine these elements.  

Some of my legislative colleagues do not see this as an important issue to Idaho.  I see it as critically important!  Therefore, I will do all I can to protect the livelihood of our people who manufacture these products here in Southeast Idaho, as well as to the farmers and others that depend on these products to grow our
nation’s food.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is another issue that is very important to me.  I helped write, sponsor, and carried Senate Bill 1416 (S1416) this Session.  S1416 is a step in the process to help our EMS personnel and districts throughout the State that are underfunded and often understaffed.  These districts are dealing with burnout and problems recruiting and retaining volunteers. S1416 is beginning the process that will result in eventual assistance with funding  to help with equipment and support.  It is important to note that EMS volunteers will remain volunteers and keep their independence.  Every district is different, and we want them to stay that way.  S1416 has intent language that will make EMS an essential service in the State of Idaho where currently it is not essential.  Our EMS personnel are always at the scene of an emergency doing what they do best, saving lives!  We appreciate these good volunteers and the work they do.  S1416 easily passed the Senate but, unfortunately, was met with not even a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee.  Although it was unsuccessful this year, I will continue to work on making EMS services essential in the State of Idaho.  

There were many more pieces of legislation I worked on and supported, including funding for public education, many agriculture and natural resources bills, and legislation to assist law enforcement and county coroners develop a data base to help locate the next-of-kin of accident victims (S1365).  

On an uplifting note, this Session I was honored by the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities when their Consortium for Idahoans with Disabilities voted for me to receive their “2024 Disability Champion Award”.  The Consortium is a coalition of Idaho agencies and organizations concerned with issues affecting people with disabilities.  I was humbled to receive this award.

I heard from many of you regarding issues that concerned you, I listened, and I appreciate all that reached out.  We may not agree on every issue, but I regard every decision I make and every vote I cast as my responsibility to represent you in the Idaho State Senate.  I take this responsibility very seriously and I do my best to give you a voice on important issues. 

Most sincerely,

Senator Mark Harris

Idaho State Senate (LD-35)

Senate Majority Caucus Chair