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THE GOVERNOR SIGNS OUR BILL
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(S1247) People w/ Neurocognitive Disorders in a Crisis Find Help
S1247 creates a 24-hour protective hold in a hospital for someone with a neurocognitive disorder to assess if the person has an underlying medical problem that may be causing or worsening a crisis, such as an undiagnosed urinary tract infection, dehydration, or a problem with medication. The hold would only be for cases in which the person is likely to injure themselves or others. Once stabilized, doctors can work with caregivers to get them home quickly and safely. 
Who and What Inspired This Law?
Under current law, there can be temporary holds for those experiencing a mental health crisis, but these don’t apply to neurocognitive disorders.
Over a year ago, I got a call from the director of the Interfaith Homeless shelter when one of her guests with Huntingtons Disease couldn't get help even though she was in a serious crisis. Working with the Department of Health and Welfare staff, we cobbled together an intervention to help this person, and she finally got the help she needed. After all that, I was determined to fill this gap in the law that left out vulnerable adults with Alzheimer's and other related dementias. So, I got to work with a talented group of community partners to work on solutions and, over that last year, we worked together on this legislation.
Next steps: we start meeting this month to devise plans to educate first responders and hospitals to make the transition to the new law as smooth as possible!
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And the Rest of My Bills Passed!
- Increased access to prescription contraception (S1234) – it only took 6 years!
- Human trafficking safety assessments (S1350) for juveniles who come into the system.
- Election transparency (S1260) in large cities so unopposed candidates are on the ballot.
- Expanding Idaho's licensure program for internationally-trained physicians (H542)
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COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO EXTREMISM
In response to all the harmful bills introduced by the GOP this past session, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Idaho asked people all over the state to mail in homemade paper hearts, representing the 48,000 Idaho residents who identified as LGBTQ+ in the 2020 Census.
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It was a powerful reminder of the real lives being damaged by legislation that targets the LGBTQ+ community and anyone who doesn't conform to the GOP's definition of the "traditional" white family with two heterosexual parents and their children found in HCR35. God forbid those kids are gay or trans, because the parents nor the children will have any rights to be who they are or seek care they need since the GOP has taken control of parents' rights they don't agree with.
Over the past several years, the GOP has introduced and passed many bills to incrementally erase the rights of LGBTQ+ people and to do away with diversity and inclusion programs. These bills create an on-ramp for hate and create conditions for racism, sexism, homophobia, and many other oppressive practices to fester and culminate in incidents like we saw in CDA when the Patriot Front was arrested during Pride Fest and when the Utah basketball team was recently harassed by people hurling racist slurs at the team.
In response to this disgusting incident of hate, Rep Mathias introduced a resolution (SCR135) to denounce racism and the conditions that create it. Interestingly during debate on the Senate floor, many GOP extremists were upset because there wasn't "proof" the incident occurred. That dangerous of attitude "good people on both sides" is what is fueling conditions of hate in Northern Idaho similar to what we saw prior to running the Aryan Nation out of town in the late 1990's and early 2000's.
The irony could not be thicker when you look at the Senate Reading Calendar where a resolution (SCR134) creating an interim committee to "investigate DEI and social justice in higher education" is nestled right above SCR135 that denounces racism. SCR135 passed out of the Senate but the House didn't hear it.
In order to fight oppressive practices, we have to return "up river" and fight against the root causes of oppression and violence: institutionalizing attitudes, values, and beliefs that marginalize groups who are different or in the minority. If we are going to reduce harmful acts of racism, then we shouldn't be denouncing programs that foster inclusion and diversity to help people historically excluded from mainstream America like people who are Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color along with the LGBTQ+ community and women of all races and sexual orientations.
The GOP-dominated legislature is passing bills that are attacking the progress we have made in human rights and personal freedoms in the last couple of decades. Many GOP legislators have adopted template legislation from national organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Foundation for Government Accountability, both known as "right-wing think tanks" who have focused on the overturning of Roe v. Wade and gay marriage along with kicking people off Medicaid and expanding child labor respectively.
As with all social justice movements that advance human rights, history tells the story, too, of backlash from people who have been entitled to social advantages and now feel threatened that "their way of life" is diminishing, common propaganda touted by the Idaho Freedom Foundation and other extremist groups.
With that in mind, however, we must continue to be vigilant to learn more about the methods extremists are using, so we counter their measures with common sense, dignity for all people, and courage to create a place where everyone can thrive.
I know that change can be difficult for some people; I think of my conservative, Christian father who felt threatened by what a college education did to his daughter who challenged traditional authority and fought for women's rights.
I know that I didn't meet his patriarchal vision, but I think he started to respect me as I advanced from college to support myself financially, not needing a handout from my parents, unlike other family members. When he saw me elected to public office, tears in his eyes, he started to get it. And later in life when he saw what Medicare did to prevent him from poverty when my mom was racking up medical bills, dying from cancer, he started to understand more of what I had advocated for.
Deep down, he was proud of his daughter, even if I didn't meet his traditional expectations. He respected how hard I worked and persevered in the toughest of times. He wanted the best for me. And he started to understand that everyone has the right to live the life they choose, even his female progressive daughter. And he stopped feeling so threatened. And maybe, by the time he died, he realized there was room in the world for everyone -- even the people fighting for equality and a new vision of the world where everyone could truly be free and accepted.
I think of how hard change was on my dad who was socialized in a very traditional way. And that's my barometer. If I can reach him, I can reach others AND I can open my heart to more understanding as well. We all have to get past the political rhetoric and see each other as human and deserving of the opportunities to thrive.
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A FEW MORE NOTEWORTHY BILLS AND PROCESSES
Education
I stood firmly against H521, a bill initially presented as a solution to school facilities funding but ultimately mutated into a legislative nightmare. This bill, which unfortunately passed despite my opposition, resembles the infamous Monster of Frankenstein in its haphazard assembly and potential for grave consequences.
H521 not only unfairly caps Boise School District's funding at $40 million while allocating up to $140 million to West Ada, showcasing clear favoritism, but also fails to deliver on its promise of $2 billion for school facilities over a decade. It imposes restrictive conditions on fund usage, prioritizing the payoff of old debts over addressing urgent facility needs, and strips away crucial funding mechanisms like lottery funds and bond levy equalization, exacerbating inequalities between affluent and struggling districts. Furthermore, its inclusion of unrelated provisions, such as income tax rate reductions, further undermines state revenue for education. I voted against this bill because it not only falls short of its promises but also poses a significant threat to our education system, epitomizing government failure and neglect of the people of Idaho.
Child Protection
Dedicated to safeguarding the rights of vulnerable youth, I am deeply committed to my work serving on the Child Protection Legislative Oversight Committee. S1379, crucially restricts short-term rentals for young foster care individuals, ensuring their safety and stability. Additionally, S1380 establishes an independent ombudsman office to address grievances within the foster care system. These initiatives arose from discussions and testimony given in our committee meetings, where the voices of foster parents resonated profoundly. The harrowing stories shared in committee meetings underscore the urgent need for reform. While navigating debates and concerns about government expansion, I remain steadfast in pursuing justice and accountability for those impacted by the system.
The Appropriations Process Hijacked
The appropriations process in Idaho, led by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), faced inefficiencies and procedural complexities throughout this session, wasting tax-payer dollars and hindering effective governance and budget management. We saw maneuvers, including a rewritten transportation budget ruled out of order and the proposal for a new legislative impact review team, add layers of bureaucracy and raise questions about resource prioritization. Tensions within JFAC, push for separate voting mechanisms, and disagreements over voting procedures we just a few contributions to delays in passing essential budget measures, again, wasting tax-paying dollars and reflecting deep divisions within the legislature, leading to delays in addressing needed budget requests.
Health and Welfare -- GOP kills EBT food program
Idaho GOP missed a chance to support food security for children during the summers. Despite bipartisan legislation passed in 2022 for Summer EBT, Idaho failed to implement it in 2023. With minimal investment, $545,000, 0.01% of the budget, could have unlocked $16.3 million in food assistance for low income children during the summer months when school is out and food insecurity for children increases.
Children's Health Record Privacy (S1329)
Of course parents should be playing an active role in their children’s healthcare, but I could not support S1329 which would have required providers to turn over all health records in every case, including those related to mental health. All children are not fortunate enough to have supportive and understanding parents, and children in strict or abusive households need to access medical care independently, without fearing repercussions. The bill passed the Senate 27-7 and was signed into law.
Library Bill (HB 710)
After earlier library bills HB 384 and SB 1289 were unsuccessful, HB 710 passed the Senate 24-11 and was signed into law. This bill grants individuals the authority to report books and restrict others' access to them, while also offering a $250 incentive. I can foresee the targeting of books related to gender identity and sexual orientation. This legislation burdens libraries unnecessarily, creating problems where none exist.
School Vouchers
(HB 447, HB 743) School vouchers made an appearance this session, named the “Parental Choice Tax Credit." These bills would provide $5,000 to families to send their kids to private schools. At a time when our schools are in desperate need of funding for repairs and maintenance, we cannot afford to siphon $50 million of taxpayer dollars into this project. In addition, in other states where voucher schemes have been created, costs have quickly blown out of proportion, while a large majority of vouchers go to wealthier families who are already sending their kids to private schools. Thankfully, both of these bills failed, but I'm guessing that some members of the GOP will continue to try to pass these bills.
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END OF SESSION OVERVIEW
FROM YOUR D19 LEGISLATORS
We are honored to represent you and serve as your District 19 Democratic legislators working to strengthen educational opportunities, grow an economy that works for everyone, ensure access to health care, safeguard voting rights, and protect access to your public lands.
We entered this Legislative Session with high hopes for what we could accomplish for Idahoans. We are proud of the solutions we brought forward and the votes we cast – our small caucus often made the difference. While we were able to effect positive change, we were dismayed that the extreme elements of the Republican supermajority enacted many harmful policies for Idahoans.
We are writing to inform you about the priorities we held close throughout the Legislative Session and some of the major pieces of legislation we considered.
Strengthening Our Public Schools
Education is key to addressing many challenges facing our state — competing globally and ensuring future generations can thrive here. As Idaho Democrats, prioritizing public education is one of our core values.
At the beginning of the session, we were pleased to hear Governor Little’s proposal to address the nearly $1 billion backlog in school facility needs. Unfortunately, legislative leaders attached harmful and wholly unrelated provisions to the final legislation.
First, the funding provided is insufficient and inequitable. Valley View Elementary in Boundary County needs close to $20 million to replace an elementary school where a roof caved in, but will likely receive only a fraction of that. Avery, and some other small districts with tremendous needs, will only get $2,500 per year to address their facilities needs due to a shockingly low floor the bill adopted. And while West Ada school district will receive $100M more than any other district, failed to pass a $500 million bond to meet their building needs. The district will likely receive 40% of that amount. The bill specifically capped funding for Boise Schools, allocating just half the resources Boise would have received under equal treatment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE... |
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VISITING OUR SCHOOLS
What Matters Most to You?
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I paid visits to Anser Charter School and Roosevelt Elementary School where I shared some of the basics about state government and then listened to students share WHAT MATTERED MOST to them.
Some of the common themes:
- climate change and concerns about polluting the environment; they talked a lot about
 trees, plant life, and health of the oceans
- safety in their community and living free from wars and violence
- animals and preventing abuse of animals
- making sure people had a place to live
- making sure that people could see a doctor
- not silencing people
- making sure people are treated fairly and that power isn't abused
I am so impressed with the level of insights and reflection from students at both of these schools. They give me hope. I want to thank all the teachers out there who are providing support and guidance to our students and providing open and caring classrooms where all children can thrive.
THANK YOU!
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SENATE DEMOCRATS SINE DIE
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I joined Lt. Gov Bedke last week to speak at Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month Proclamation Signing. It's on all of us to create a safe community for our children.
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A BIG THANK YOU
to these amazing college interns, Ashley and Mia !!!!!!
I couldn't have done this work without you!
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Local news resources to stay updated on the legislature:
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