Legislative Updates
Representative Mike Veile
This last week, we passed H940, the policy bill related to the cuts to IDLA. IDLA, the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, is a state-sponsored online program for students. It is primarily used to supplement schools when they may not have the teachers or course offerings needed to provide certain classes. This has been an especially valuable program for rural districts.
This issue has been an ongoing saga throughout the session, as the Governor’s office targeted the program for budget cuts in its proposed budget. The main reason given for the cuts is that some larger schools have been using the program even when they already offer those same classes in-house. In addition, some homeschool students and other online schools were also using the program. This was highlighted as being beyond IDLA’s intended purpose.
There were some very aggressive proposals to dramatically reduce or even eliminate IDLA altogether. We defeated several of those efforts in committee. However, JFAC ultimately cut the program’s funding by about 50% without first passing a policy bill. With the funding already reduced, H940 became the policy vehicle intended to do the least harm while aligning the program with the budget cuts. In many ways, this was an effort to make the best of a bad situation.
A number of bills worked their way through the House that were labeled as housing affordability bills. Two of them, S1354 and S1352, made it through and will become law. These bills require cities to allow greater building density, smaller lot sizes, and other related zoning changes. I opposed these bills as an intrusion on local control. While there may be some merit to the argument for housing affordability, this is another example of the state mandating policy over the top of local jurisdictions.
Another bill of note was S1300. This bill allows the Governor to appoint the directors of Fish and Game, Parks and Recreation, and Transportation. I opposed this bill because it diminishes public access to these directors and reduces their deference to the regional board members who previously selected them. I am also concerned that Harriman State Park could be put in jeopardy by this change if it conflicts with the terms under which the family granted the property to the state. Lastly, I question why the Legislature felt the need to cede even more authority to the executive branch.
We are supposed to finish up this week. Some believe Wednesday is possible, but that remains to be seen. Bills brought forward at the last minute and prioritized by leadership will likely define the final days of the session.
