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UPDATE ALERT ON H383
SEXUAL ASSAULT CIVIL PROTECTION ORDER STALLED
This very important public safety bill has not received a vote yet. It is being held in committee right now because a powerful special interest group has voiced concerns to my colleagues; we are trying to work with them so we can create an avenue forward for victims of sexual assault to seek some minimum protections.
Feel free to contact me with questions and email the House Judiciary and Rules Committee to ask for a vote and to stand with sexual assault survivors.
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PROPERTY TAX SOLUTIONS NEED TO BE HEARD
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Rep Ilana Rubel held a press conference this week to share the Democratic solutions to the property tax crisis and explains how the GOP leadership will not give any of these very reasonable bills a hearing in committee.
Rep Moyle wants to freeze taxes, but that doesn't address any of the root cause problems and how to solve them. Listen to Rep Rubel outline how the GOP got us into the mess and how we can work together to get us out of it!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH!
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Legislative Updates
Let's Start With a Little Good News.....
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Senate Transportation Passes our Bill to Stop Predatory Booting - H345
This bill is one step closer to ending predatory booting practices that have been harming citizens who can't afford it, while some predatory companies line their pockets. This legislation clarifies that someone cannot boot or remove a vehicle SOLELY on the basis of expired registration. I have heard many stories where people, especially tenants in large apartment complexes, have found their vehicles booted by a third party for expired tags, even when they are parked in their own parking spots! A towing company even testified that there were some companies preying on folks and even working with property managers to make an extra buck on the backs of hard working people. This is what gives good landlords a bad name. This bill is now going to be heard on the Senate Floor. Thanks to Rep Ricks for helping to co-sponsor and to support this issue.
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House Judiciary & Rules Passes Tenant/Landlord Transparency - H462
The purpose of this legislation is to define a process for a landlord and tenant to conduct a walkthrough of the premises being rented by the tenant at the time of move in and move out. It also establishes reasonable limits on fees and assessment to ensure housing is available in the market for all people. Since housing acts as a wage and healthy subsidy for employers and our community, these provisions help employees and community members to reasonably afford housing and understand their obligations and rights under the law. Former Supreme Court Justice Jim Jones recognized this as one of three bills he sees having the potential to help a lot of people and testified in committee last week to support the bill.
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And Now for the Bad News.....
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ELECTION YEARS BAD FOR MOST IDAHOANS
Bill Disregards Court Ruling on Birth Certificates - H509
Rep Young introduced a bill to prohibit citizens from changing the gender marker on their birth certificate to match their gender identity, which flies in the face of a federal court ruling earlier this year. Despite warnings about passing laws that blatantly disregard court orders that would result in costly litigation, wasting more taxpayer dollars, she continued with her argument. This is just one of three bills that is working together to discriminate and oppress transgender citizens.
Bill Denies Transgender Student Athletes from Participating -- H500
On Wednesday, there was a public hearing for a bill that would promote discrimination against transgender athletes, which would make them more vulnerable to bullying, harassment, and invasive and humiliating inspections to determine their gender, regardless of how they identify. This is a such an oppressive and ugly piece of legislation that creates a legal avenue for people to accuse or "out" people that are "suspected" of being transgender and then after the "accusation," the athlete must submit to an invasive physical exam, genetic testing, and hormone testing. This Draconian policy makes me cringe and my heart breaks for all the citizens who testified last week. This legislature as a whole seems to be moving backwards in time, establishing policies that are clearly discriminatory and will be up for legal challenge. Even the Idaho Statesman published a strong editorial statement against the bill.
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House Votes to Eliminate Affirmative Action in Hiring - H440
On Monday, the House passed H440, banning affirmative action initiatives, which are absolutely necessary for making the work environment more equitable for marginalized and oppressed groups. Nine states across the country have passed bans on affirmative action -- as the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this is legal.
This bill will amend the Idaho Human Rights Act, which already bans discrimination in hiring. My democratic colleagues and I are very concerned about this bill, and we are all urging you to contact your senators so that this harmful bill does not pass through the Senate.
Attempts to Dismantle Child Protection Statutes - H454 & H455
Rep Heather Scott and Sage Dixon brought bills to House Judiciary and Rules last week to end mandatory reporting of child abuse and to narrow the definition of medical neglect. Luckily the neglect legislation was held in committee on a close vote, but Scott's bill passed out of committee. Idaho is one of many states that requires all citizens to report child abuse. This is not only a strong statement of our values as a state -- that all of us are responsible for the safety and protection of children -- but also that neighbors, friends, and family members are some of the first to see abuse. To dismantle such a statute in favor of what Scott and her colleagues see as protecting parents, is irresponsible and could endanger more kids.
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“What about the god given rights of kids? Who’s looking out for them?” Ivy Smith asked of legislators who want to end mandatory reporting of child abuse as she testified against H455.
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Join Us -- District 19 Town Hall
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Tuesday, March 3rd, at 6 pm
Hidden Springs Elementary School
5480 W Hidden Springs Dr, Boise, Idaho 83714
Please join me, Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb, and our newly appointed Representative Lauren Necochea, for our last town hall meeting during this session. We will take your questions and share our ideas at these events! A sign language interpreter is available upon request. Please submit a request for accommodation no later than 5 days prior to the town hall meeting by emailing Chrystal Allen at allen.chrystal@gmail.com.
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