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Capitol Reflections: 2025 Session, Issue 4

By: Idaho Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs

 

 

 

“Any country that tramples on property rights, that routinely ignores them or violates them, is trifling with one of humanity’s primary values.”  -Timothy Sandefur, author “Cornerstone of Liberty, Property Rights in 21st Century America.”

 

 

 

Capitol Minute

 

To help our members be fully informed about the issues going on during the legislative session, there will be a short video each week in which our Governmental Affairs team highlights what is discussed in length in the Capitol Reflections Newsletter. We strongly encourage members to continue reading the newsletter to get the most information, but this new video will help when you want a quick synopsis or to learn about the issues on the go.

 

 

 

 

 

Idaho Farm Bureau Goes to Texas

 

IFBF members were able to participate in the annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in San Antonio, Texas. There were many highlights of the time spent there. Members heard from Customs and Border Protection officers and a pecan orchard owner, who lives near the southern border wall and the Rio Grande, about the economic and operational challenges caused by mass migration. Additionally, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) shared an optimistic outlook on the Farm Bill, emphasizing bipartisan cooperation and the importance of a strong safety net for agriculture and rural America.

We are also very proud of our Young Farm & Ranchers who participated in competitions. Camas and Miguel Villafana represented Idaho in the Achievement Award competition. Denton Perkins was part of the Discussion Meet competition and made it to the Sweet Sixteen Round. Paige Nelson participated in the Excellence in Agriculture Award and received third place. We are very proud of our competitors and how well they represented Idaho!

The pinnacle event was the House of Delegates where national policy was debated and voted upon. Resolutions brought by Idaho that were approved included allowing for swarm flying of drones, requiring licensing and continuing education for public lands employees, requiring federal agencies to follow land management acts, and rebuilding the Teton Dam.

 

 

 

 

 

Brand Board Fee Increase Bill Introduced

 

After years of discussions with affected livestock industry stakeholders, the Idaho Brand Board has introduced their proposed bill to increase the fees charged to livestock owners in Idaho.

S1016 was introduced on January 21 and is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, February 11 in the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen Tammy Nichols (R-Middleton).

S1016 would increase the following fees for livestock producers in Idaho:

  • Annual brand inspection certificates (good for one year) would increase from $5 to $10.
  • Brand recording fee would increase from $50 to $75.
  • Historical research of a brand recording would be charged at $36 per hour.
  • Renewal fees for brands will increase from $125 to $200.
  • Providing a duplicate brand card will increase from $1.50 to $5.
  • Brand transfer fees will increase from $50 to $75.
  • When travel is required to conduct inspections, the minimum fee will increase from $20 to $40.
  • Duplicate brand inspection certificates will now be charged a fee of $10.
  • Livestock dealer license fees will increase from $100 to $300 annually.
  • Livestock dealer representative fees will increase from $35 annually to $100 annually.

In addition to these fee increases, the cap on the per-head cattle brand inspection fee will increase from $1.25 per head to $1.50 per head. According to the brand board, the per-head inspection fee for cattle will remain at $1.25 per head until the brand board determines it needs to increase the fee. Then, the board may only increase the per-head inspection fee by a maximum of ten cents per head in any one year, up to the cap. The decision to increase this fee must be made at their regularly scheduled board meeting in the first quarter of the year, to take effect on July 1 of that year. The brand board can likewise reduce the per-head cattle inspection fee if it is bringing in more money than the brand board needs to operate effectively.

These fee increases have been vetted by the livestock producers and livestock associations across the state over the past two years. Farm Bureau has reviewed this proposal with our beef committee, our state and public lands committee, and our dairy committee. None of these committees have provided any resolutions in opposition to the proposed fee increases. 

IFBF policy #11.4 states: “We support the continuation of the Idaho State Brand Board and reasonable actions that must be taken to keep it solvent, including adjusting fee caps with the livestock industries’ input and approval and discretionary adjustments of the fees under the legislatively set fee caps.”  S1016 conforms to this policy. Therefore, IFBF supports S1016.

 

 

 

 

 

Bills Addressing Initiatives Introduced

 

This week two bills were introduced to ensure that laws passed by citizens’ initiative are beneficial for all Idahoans. This past year demonstrated that it is easy for out of state big money to gather enough signatures to get an initiative on the ballot. However, most Idaho voters do not approve of this concept. While the ranked choice voting initiative failed miserably, it required a lot of time, effort and money for citizens across the state to educate their friends and neighbors and successfully stop the effort after it qualified for the ballot.

The first bill, SJR101 proposes to require the gathering of signatures from 6% of the registered voters in each of the 35 legislative districts before any measure would qualify for the ballot. This would ensure that there is at least a very minimal amount of support across the entire state before an initiative could move forward. The legislature passed this exact bill back in 2020. However, it was immediately challenged by activists and the Idaho Supreme Court overturned the bill declaring the law was unconstitutional; despite the Idaho Constitution clearly stating the initiative process is to be conducted “under such conditions and in such manner as may be provided by acts of the legislature." 

SJR101 seeks to overcome that judicial obstacle by placing this geographic signature gathering requirement in the Idaho Constitution. To amend the constitution, it requires a two-thirds vote of approval in both the House and Senate, and then a simple majority vote by Idaho citizens at the general election in 2026. SJR101 is sponsored by Senator Doug Okuniewicz (R-Hayden) and will have a full hearing in the Senate State Affairs committee.

The second bill, H85 sponsored by Rep Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) seeks to provide an additional level of oversight on an initiative once it has passed. Since laws passed by initiative are supposed to be equal in every way to laws passed by the legislature, it is reasoned that once an initiative has passed, it should still be subject to the approval of the Governor, just like a regular bill.

Under H85, once an initiative is approved by voters, the Governor may veto the law if the measure passes by less than 66 2/3%. When the legislature passes a bill, the governor may veto it, but the legislature may over-ride the veto with a 2/3 vote of both chambers. Since the voters approve an initiative, the idea is that the governor may veto it, unless the voters approve it by more than a 2/3 vote, which presumably means they would over-ride his veto if given a chance.

H85 will next receive a full hearing from the House State Affairs committee. IFBF policy #123 states “we support all ballot initiatives requiring a two-thirds majority vote to pass.” IFBF supports H85.

 

 

 

 

 

New Right to Farm Legislation

 

This week in the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee, Sen. Todd Lakey (R- Nampa) and Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale) introduced legislation that would add to Idaho’s Right to Farm Statutes in a positive way.

The Idaho Right to Farm Act protects agriculture as one of the foundations of our economy and the Idaho way of life. The Act currently provides protections for lawfully conducted agricultural operations; however, it lacks practical defenses against meritless lawsuits or complaints. S1033 provides that protection, if a lawsuit alleging nuisance is filed against a lawfully conducted agricultural operation and the agriculture operator prevails, then they are entitled to recover their attorney's fees. It also provides fines and penalties for filing multiple meritless complaints with applicable state and local agencies.

As Idaho continues to grow, and as urban and suburban areas continue to creep farther into farm country, the risk of nuisance complaints increases for agricultural producers who are simply doing their jobs. Production agriculture inherently comes with certain noises that may be seen as an inconvenience. Nonetheless, Idaho farmers and ranchers should be adequately protected from frivolous claims that have no merit and impede producers from doing their jobs.

IFBF Policies 55 and 56 support an individual’s right to farm and the state’s Right to Farm Act. S1033 will further strengthen the Act and continue to provide protection for lawful agricultural practices conducted in the state.

IFBF supports S1033.

 

 

 

 

 

Fish and Game Gives Update

 

On Monday, Idaho Fish and Game presented on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and wolf management to the House Resources and Conservation Committee.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Certain Game Management Units (GMUs) currently require mandatory CWD testing, and expanded hunts have been implemented to reduce herd numbers and rebuild a healthy population. Idaho has confirmed 84 cases of CWD in mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk— all in GMUs 1, 14, 18, and 23 north of the Sawtooth Mountains. However, in the last two months, there has been two cases of CWD in domestic elk: one in Madison County and one in Jefferson County. Domestic Cervidae are under the supervision of ISDA. CWD is incredibly difficult to prevent as it spreads through saliva, blood, urine, or feces and can last in the soil for years. It is also difficult to kill the disease as it takes heat levels equal to cremation to destroy.

Wolf Management Update

Fish and Game estimates Idaho’s wolf population has declined by 36% annually since 2019, dropping from 1,600 to 1,300 wolves. If this trend continues, the state could reach its 500-wolf goal by 2028. However, a federal injunction on trapping outside of grizzly denning periods has slowed wolf mortality, potentially delaying this timeline. IFBF supports S1013, which enhances trapper education through a “journeyman” experience to sustain momentum.

Confirmed and probable wolf depredations have significantly declined, from over 200 cases in 2018 to fewer than 50 in 2023. Fish and Game cited possible reasons, including reduced wolf-livestock interactions, fewer reports, or changes in investigation methods. IFBF supports S1012, establishing the Idaho Depredation Appeals Board, to provide better clarity on wolf-caused livestock losses.

 

 

 

 

 

IFBF Legislative Intern - Maddie Williams

 

My experience with the Farm Bureau legislative internship was great; it gave me insight into how the legislative process works and how much advocacy is key to policymaking. As a recent college graduate with a degree in public policy, experiencing policymaking in real life, instead of just reading about it was quite an eye-opener.

One of the most exciting parts of my internship was meeting state representatives and senators. It was inspiring to see how these officials work tirelessly to represent the interests of their constituents.

This week I saw how legislation is created and passed. Seeing the complexities of drafting, debating, and enacting laws firsthand made me realize how important collaboration is at every level. I learned that compromising and understanding different perspectives is key to turning ideas into action. During private meetings and committee discussions, it became clear that finding common ground is essential for crafting laws that benefit everyone and drive real progress. That said, it's equally important to know when to stand firm on your issues and when to be flexible. Striking that balance is crucial in the legislative process.

Attending committee meetings was particularly enlightening. These gatherings allow the public to speak to bills they believe address essential state issues. Watching these testimonies highlighted how much power and influence regular citizens can have in their government.

I also had the privilege of shadowing dedicated lobbyists who advocate for Idaho's farmers. Spending time with these committed professionals showed me how much effort goes into pushing legislation that aligns with the values of The Farm Bureau. Their dedication and passion were truly inspiring.

This was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it to anybody interested in the legislative process. It gives insight into all the background activities of the Capitol that many people never get to see. It also showed the importance of advocacy in policymaking, which affects our communities.

Overall, my legislative internship with the Farm Bureau was transformative and significantly enhanced my understanding of how government works and the crucial role of advocacy. It gave me a firsthand look at democracy in action and a chance to appreciate the hard work of those striving to make a difference. 

 

 

 

 

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Resources Available to Follow During Session:

Legislative Website Homepage: HERE

2025 Legislative Session Bill Center: HERE

List of Senate Committee Assignments: HERE

List of House Committee Assignments: HERE

Current Senate Committee Agendas: HERE

Current House Committee Agendas: HERE

Watch Committee Meetings and Floor Sessions Live: HERE

Governor’s Bill Action and Legislative Communications: HERE