Santa isn't the only one with a list this time of year. While we aren't in the business of making a naughty list, there are several recommendations we hope Idaho lawmakers will put on their policy nice list for the 2025 Legislative Session. Based on our recent Idaho Poll results, many of these proposals have strong public support.
Here are Mountain States Policy Center's top recommendations for lawmakers to consider (in no particular order):
Education
Expand options for students and families with enhanced education choice opportunities by adopting an education choice tax credit. (66% Idaho Poll support)
Provide transparency for public school open enrollment decisions.
Increase accountability and transparency with a Public School Transparency Act. (82% Idaho Poll support)
Taxes
Increase the grocery tax rebate and index for inflation.
Improve transparency with a tax transparency website, taxpayer receipt, Truth in Taxation property tax website, and gas tax transparency stickers. (88% Idaho Poll support for Truth in Taxation).
Send voters a constitutional amendment to require a legislative supermajority vote (or voter approval) for tax increases. (72% Idaho Poll support)
Adopt revenue growth triggers to authorize automatic tax rate reductions.
Move to a 30-day filing threshold for remote income tax liability.
Avoid imposing a mileage tax.
Budget/Spending
Use performance-based budgeting to focus spending on outcomes.
Transparency/Governance
Enhance public participation in the legislative process by requiring three-day notice for public hearings. (92% Idaho Poll support)
Stop the use of low-voter turnout special elections to propose local tax levies and bonds by moving votes to the November general election for maximum voter engagement.
Authorize an open government ombudsman.
Authorize a statewide voters’ guide. (85% Idaho Poll support)
Reform the ballot fiscal impact statement process.
Institutionalize Idaho’s regulatory reform executive orders into statute.
Health care
Don’t expand the Hospital 340B program without reforms first.
Avoid further Medicaid expansion.
Consider reasonable Medicaid work requirements. (63% Idaho Poll support)
Natural resources/Energy
Oppose any breaching of the Snake River dams and efforts to reduce operational effectiveness.
Work to restore more state control over federal land.
Additional details on these recommendations are available in our Policy Manual. As for our role during the coming legislative session, there are certain things we will (and won't) do:
We will stand for freedom, liberty and free markets through our research and recommendations;
We won't pressure lawmakers or call people names;
We will produce ideas and analysis that inform the debate - and let those ideas do the talking;
We won't attend a public hearing unless invited by lawmakers to offer testimony;
We will review various proposals and legislation, offering analysis; and
We won't grade bills or any lawmaker.
Mountain States Policy Center looks forward to working with Idaho lawmakers to help advance these policy reforms when the 2025 Legislative Session kicks off on January 6.