Weeks 5-6 - 2024 Session
It has been eventful in the statehouse and I've been working hard to move a couple of bills that I'm sponsoring forward. Below is my bi-weekly update:
__________________________________________________________________
Focusing on the real issues
I presented two bills this week: one that shields dismissed eviction records from public viewing and one that reduces criminal liability for homeless youth shelters and crisis centers. These are both bipartisan bills that address real issues facing our state, and I look forward to discussing them more with my colleagues in the weeks to come. I am proud to announce both S1327 and S1328 passed out of committee and are one step closer to becoming law.
Eviction Record Shielding Act (S1327)
This bipartisan legislation which I'm proud to co-sponsor with Representative Handy aims to shield from public viewing eviction records in cases where the entire case has been dismissed, no appeal is pending for the case, and at least three years have elapsed since the filing date of the eviction. This week, this bill passed out of the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee and will head to the Senate floor next.
Evictions in Idaho - even when they're dismissed - are permanent and public record. An eviction is dismissed when someone goes through the process and pays what they owe. It may also be dismissed in the case of a frivolous or illegal eviction. A dismissed record can be compared to a "withheld judgment" in criminal cases, which eventually go off of the public record. Someone shouldn't have to carry a dismissed record for their entire lives.
This is a balanced solution to a big problem in our state, and all stakeholders including landlords support it. It helps them get paid during a legal eviction. Currently many tenants do not show up for their hearing or pay what they owe, because there is no incentive to do so. Their record stays with them even if they square up with their landlord. Under this law, tenants have an incentive to go to court and work out an agreement with their landlord.
The bill also offers a solution for tenants, giving them a second chance to keep their record clear of evictions. Evictions have nearly doubled in recent years in Idaho, from 2,326 in 2022, to 3,354 in 2023. A majority of these evictions are happening to people for the first time simply because people can't pay their rent. Over half of renters in Idaho are now living paycheck-to-paycheck and any unanticipated expense or shortfall can lead them to a place where they can't pay their rent. However, many are simply waiting for their next paycheck in order to make rent, and may have the capacity to get their case dismissed. It's only fair for these folks, in those cases, for them to have that record go away after a few years.
Please click HERE to use the tool from the Idaho Asset Building Network to email Senators and tell them to vote for this bill!
__________________________________________________________________
Homeless Youth Shelters
Homeless youth shelter bill (S1328)
This bill, co-sponsored by Representative Wroten, aims to protect licensed youth shelters and crisis centers from criminal penalties for housing a runaway child under specific circumstances, as long as they obtain the child's consent, attempt to notify their legal guardian and notify law enforcement.
Under current law, licensed homeless youth shelters are susceptible to a misdemeanor charge if they shelter anyone 17 or younger without parental or guardian consent, and it is merely an affirmative defense if they contact local law enforcement. This original law was passed in the 1980s when there was an issue with “flophouses” where youth were staying without parental permission. 40 years later, we now have licensed homeless youth shelters and crisis centers that shelter and take care of our homeless and runaway youth. They should not be held liable for a misdemeanor for simply doing their jobs.
Due to a vast number of reasons including housing instability and unsafe home situations involving abuse and neglect, the number of homeless youth utilizing shelters in Idaho was at a staggering 2,614 last year, and those numbers continue to increase. Ensuring the safety of children in Idaho remains vitally important, but the current law makes that more difficult. Shelters sometimes must turn away children to avoid criminal repercussions. This leaves runaway children with nowhere to go and left alone on the streets, significantly increasing risks to their well-being. It is paramount that we have legislation in place that ensures homeless youth have a safe place to stay when they need it.
__________________________________________________________________
I support childcare workers.
I got a visit from my favorite constituent at the Capitol, my son Miles, alongside my mom! I’m so grateful to my mom, my mother-in-law, and our daycare for taking great care of our son most days so that I can be here, working to build a better future for his home state.
I was also able to speak with early learning providers in the Capitol, including the Garden City Early Learning Collaborative. Affordable childcare and preschool are hard for working families to find in Idaho. In a recent survey, nearly all respondents stated that there aren’t enough daycare providers to fill the need.
Working parents like me should be able to have a community to lean on. With rent and other expenses skyrocketing, working is necessary for many families, but having scarce childcare options makes things even more difficult. Most employers across the state have said that lack of childcare in their communities impacts workforce productivity.
At Jesse Tree, we too often see families who can't pay their rent due to an issue related to childcare. For a single parent, if a kid gets sick or daycare closes, they can miss out on wages and potentially be evicted. And the cost of daycare alone can make it difficult for families to make ends meet each month.
Early learning centers, particularly, are critical to prepare children for school. Early childhood education supports a child's cognitive and academic development and makes them much more likely to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. A preschool education should be something that every parent can ensure their child has access to.
The State of Idaho has a valuable role in ensuring working parents can access affordable childcare and early learning options. I appreciate all that parents, employers, and providers, including IAEYC, are doing to make things work in the current environment, as there is much room for improvement.
I support solutions like investing in community-led efforts to expand access and resources for early care and education, tax credits to employers who help offset the cost of child care and preschool education, and waived income eligibility for childcare providers to help address the child care workforce shortage. Solutions like these are long overdue, and I hope to see our state adopt some of these measures in the near future.
__________________________________________________________________
Below is some of the legislation moving through the building
Changes to our budgeting process
As mentioned in my last newsletter, a bipartisan group of members in JFAC were able to pass new budgets through the committee which will include vital components of agency budgets, including staffing, and other important initiatives. Unfortunately, however, the skeleton budgets that initially were passed by JFAC were passed by the Senate. I voted against the skeleton budgets and think the changes to our budgeting processes will have dire consequences for our agencies.
Many moderate Republicans, including the Majority Leader joined with Democrats in opposing the skeleton budgets. This resulted in the Idaho House Republicans voting out their majority leader.
School vouchers (HB447)
The school tax credit voucher scheme, HB 447, reappeared (again). It was printed more than two weeks ago. We know that allowing a tax credit through will open the floodgates to continue to divert public dollars to private schools. In every state that "started small" or with a cap on the initial amount, their budgets for vouchers have ballooned. It will also simply provide funding to people who are already sending their kids to private schools, essentially acting as a tax cut for a handful of people who already have the ability to - and choose to - pay for private schooling, paid for by the rest of us.
Corporate liability for pesticide manufacturers (S1245)
I voted against SB 1245, brought by Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup, which would have limited corporate immunity for their products causing cancer and other harm to people. I voted against it because I believe pesticide manufacturers should be held responsible for their products. This legislation restricts the legal rights of individuals who suffer harm from accidental pesticide exposure to take action against the manufacturer. Thankfully, we were able to kill this bill in the Senate. It narrowly failed to pass.
Library bill (S1289)
The new library bill came up for a vote in the Senate yesterday and failed to pass by one vote. It seeks to be the compromise to the more irrational library bill that started on the House side. As a reminder, Senator Geoff Schroeder, who is an attorney, helped to write this version of the library bill to create something tenable for all libraries.
I could not support this bill because the super-majority consistently directs its attention towards matters that do not align with the real concerns Idahoans face. This is creating a problem where there isn't one. Technology is the primary cause of our children accessing harmful materials, not libraries. I also cannot swallow the fact that this bill allows for monetary and injunctive relief against libraries.
Convention of States (SCR112, SCR114, SCR115)
There are several concurrent resolutions calling for a Convention of States. SCR112 has left the committee with a do-pass recommendation. I am concerned that Article V does not protect or limit a delegation from going rogue. It could easily be directed into something that would end very poorly for the people, and I will not support these resolutions. I would be concerned about who would be making these decisions and corporate interests that would get involved.
State employee telework options (S1261)
I received many emails from constituents regarding the bill to limit telework options for state employees, so that only 15% of the workforce can be working from home at a time. I voted against this bill but unfortunately it passed the Senate 19-16.
I believe working from home greatly improves productivity and job satisfaction. It also makes hiring for state agencies more competitive, which means access to more talented and qualified candidates. I encourage you to reach out to your elected House Representatives to respectfully share your opinion on this bill.
Working Animals Protection Act (S1302)
This bill was brought before the Local Government and Taxation Committee, and we were successful in delaying its consideration. Although the legislation had the goal of protecting working animals, its broad language left room for unintended consequences, precluding cities from regulating farm animals within their jurisdiction.
__________________________________________________________________
Join our town hall next week!
Thank you to those who attended our town hall last month. It was a packed house! It was a pleasure to speak with you about important matters in this legislative session, including our efforts to protect public schools, address our housing crisis, and ensure sensible legislation supports our state’s most pressing issues. I’m lucky I get to have such incredible seatmates.
As you may know, my seatmate Colin Nash stepped down from his seat to focus on his duties as Boise City Councilmember and President. Todd Achilles was appointed to serve out the rest of his term. I look forward to working with him.
Make sure to join us at our next town hall:
Date: Wednesday, February 28th
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Location: City Hall, Garden City
RSVP Here
__________________________________________________________________
There are many challenges that face us in the session, but there is much opportunity to do good and I look forward to keeping you posted on my efforts.
In service,
-Ali
