The Idaho Capital Sun will publish a legislative notebook at the end of each week to compile information about significant events in the Legislature and other state government news in one location, with the goal of assisting Idahoans in following significant bills, resolutions, and memorials through the legislative process. Register for our free email newsletter, The Sunrise, atidahocapitalsun.com/subscribe/, to get the complete scope of our reporting delivered straight to your inbox every day.
Here is a brief summary of the main events that took place during the fourth week of the 2025 Idaho Legislature session.
A speaker from Idaho advocates for reforming the income and property taxes.
During his State of the State address to state lawmakers on January 6, Idaho Governor Brad Little called for $100 million in further tax relief for Idahoans under his Keeping Promises proposal.
In the weeks afterward, however, Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle, a Republican, has been adamant that the Legislature could and ought to do much more.
In the past few days, he has introduced a number of proposals that will lower taxes by almost $400 million this year.
Following a vote in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Thursday, his bill to lower Idaho’s corporate and individual income tax rates from 5.695% to 5.3% is making its way to the Idaho House of Representatives floor.
In order to lower property taxes, Moyle also introduced House Bill 74 this week. It would transfer $50 million to the state’s homeowners property tax relief fund once, and an additional $50 million annually to support local school construction and renovation projects that would otherwise be paid for by property taxes.
Moyle posted on the social media site X on Thursday, saying, “You’re going to hear people say we can’t afford tax relief, that we should instead invest the money in this or that program.” I don’t agree. The hands of taxpayers are the best place for taxpayer cash.
He is correct in saying that some lawmakers have already questioned whether these tax cuts would be viable in the event of a downturn in the state economy.
After stating that he is unsure if the state can afford to slash revenue by over $400 million through tax cuts and still pay for everything in the state budget and continue deferred maintenance at public schools, Rep. Steve Berch, a Democrat from Boise, rejected the income tax bill in committee.
To ascertain whether we can actually pay this measure, we do not yet have a budget or a revenue figure, Berch stated. We are uncertain about the future of the more than $6 billion we receive from the federal government in light of the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, and other executive directives. That can make a big difference.
In a news release issued Thursday, Democrats also criticized the law, claiming it will benefit Idaho’s already rich citizens at the expense of working families.
In the statement, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea stated that the state’s citizens deserve equitable tax policies that create a prosperous middle class, not another inverted plan that favors the least fortunate.
The independent Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy estimates that a family in Idaho making between $55,000 and $91,000 would receive a tax cut of roughly $127 under House Bill 40. According to the center, the top 1% of Idaho earnings who make $738,300 or more would get a tax savings of almost $5,358.
However, Moyle, who is currently in his fourteenth term in the Legislature, says he has no plans to slow down.
Moyle stated on Thursday that those of you who know me are aware that my sole motivation for running for the Legislature was to lower taxes. This is most likely the biggest income tax break we have ever given Idaho residents.
Interest-related legislation in the fourth week of the 2025 session
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House Joint Memorial 1
: The
Idaho House passed on Monday in a 46-24 vote
the memorial that calls on the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its 2015 ruling that extended the fundamental right of marriage to same-sex couples. The memorial may be taken up by the Idaho Senate in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 85
: Introduced by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, on Wednesday, the bill would
let the Idaho governor veto laws
passed directly by voters through the state s ballot initiative process. The bill may be taken up by the House State Affairs Committee in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 40
: Sponsored by Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star,
the bill would reduce Idaho s
individual and corporate income tax rates from 5.695% to 5.3%. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted to send the bill to the full House with recommendation that it pass. It is on the House s third reading calendar and may be considered in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 74
: Introduced by Moyle, on Tuesday, the
bill would send $50 million
a year annually to the state s school district facilities fund to help local schools pay for a portion of new buildings and school renovations that would normally be paid for by property taxes. The bill also takes another $50 million in one-time funding and transfers it to the state s homeowners property tax relief fund to reduce property taxes for homeowners. The bill may be taken up by the House Revenue and Taxation Committee in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 94
: Introduced by Idaho House Majority Caucus Chair Jaron Crane, R-Nampa, on Thursday, the bill
would block voter registration processing
for people whose citizenship status isn t confirmed. It directs the secretary of state to verify citizenship statuses of everyone on Idaho s statewide voter registration list. The bill may be taken up by the House State Affairs Committee in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 32
: The Idaho House
passed on Wednesday in a 52-16 vote
the bill that prevents the state, public schools, institutions of higher education, government officials, local units of government and health districts from mandating the use of masks to slow the spread of an infectious disease. The bill may be taken up by the Idaho Senate in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 41
:
The Idaho House passed on Tuesday in a 59-11 vote the bill would ban flags or banners in Idaho public school classrooms that represent a political viewpoint, including but not limited to flags or banners regarding a political party, race, sexual orientation, gender, or a political ideology. The bill may be taken up by the Idaho Senate in the coming days of the session.
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House Joint Resolution 1
: Introduced by Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, on Thursday, the resolution would amend the Idaho Constitution to include protections for private and homeschooling parents to educate their children without government regulation. The resolution may be taken up by the House State Affairs Committee in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 98
: Introduced by Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, on Thursday, the bill prohibits public officials from allowing school district funds, personnel, and other resources to support teachers unions. The bill may be taken up by the House State Affairs Committee in the coming days of the session.
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What to anticipate the following week
Committee on Environment and Resources in the Senate
On Monday, the committee will hold a full public hearing on Senate Bill 1003, which would bar anyone with unpaid fines for infractions from obtaining any kind of hunting, fishing, or trapping license, tag, or permit.
Committee on Senate Education
Senate Bill 1025, which includes $30 million in funding to support special education and would expand the state’s Empowering Parents program by $20 million to cover expenses like tuition for students attending private, public, and home schools, will be presented to the committee for a full public hearing on Monday.
Committee on House Education
The committee will have a full public hearing on House Bill 79 on Monday. The bill would raise the annual tuition maximum and limit annual tuition increases at Idaho’s community colleges.
Committee on House Rules, Administration, and Judiciary
On Monday, the committee will hold a full public hearing on House Bill 37, which would establish the firing squad as the principal method of execution for death row inmates in Idaho.
This week’s quote
To ensure that specific notices are brought to the public’s attention so that they can take action, we have regulations that we publish in newspapers. We run the danger of having that information withheld from the public when it isn’t in the state’s best interests if we give it to them.Rep. Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur d’Alene, on House plan 33, a plan that would have allowed citizens and government organizations to publish formal public notifications electronically rather of paying newspapers to do so, but which stalled in the Idaho House State Affairs Committee
The week’s top social media post
I’m here to chew bubblegum and cut taxes, but I’m completely out of bubblegum.
January 31, 2025, Mike Moyle (@Mikeemoyle).
The week’s featured image
GET THE HEADLINES FOR THE MORNING.
How to track the activity of Idaho Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature during the session
Here are some resources we use to keep tabs on the Legislature’s activities and learn how to make your opinion known on the topics that are most important to you.
How to locate your lawmakers:Enter your home address and ZIP code on the parliamentary Services Office’s website to find out which parliamentary district you reside in and the contact details for your representatives there. The three lawmakers—two members of the House and one senator—who represent your district will show up when you enter that information. You can click on their photos to get their phone number and email address.
To locate committee agendas, visit the Idaho Legislature’s website at legislature.idaho.gov and select the links for all Senate and House committee agendas on the right side of the page.
How to see legislative activity on the House and Senate floors as well as in committees:Through a program called Idaho in Session, Idaho Public Television collaborates with the Legislative Services Office and the Idaho Department of Administration to stream live content from the House and Senate floors as well as all legislative committees. Go to https://www.idahoptv.org/shows/idahoinsession/Legislature/ and choose the stream you want to view to see the activity.
How to provide a remote statement at a committee’s public hearing:Go to the website of the committee in question and select the “Testimony Registration (Remote and In Person)” tab at the top to register to testify remotely for that committee.
Where to look for state budget records:Visit the website of the Legislative Services Office’s Budget and Policy Analysis Division at https://legislature.idaho.gov/lso/bpa/budgetinformation/.
How to keep track of which bills have reached Governor Little’s desk and what he has done with them, including vetoes: Go to https://gov.idaho.gov/legislative-sessions/2025-session/, the governor’s website. When the page is updated, you can enter your email address at the bottom of the page to receive updates directly in your inbox.
This legislative diary was written by journalists Clark Corbin, Mia Maldonado, and Kyle Pfannenstiel of the Idaho Capital Sun.
