Feeling Overwhelmed? Watch this!

 Email lawmakers to oppose HB 730 by Monday 
The Idaho House of Representatives passed HB 730 on Thursday, increasing restrictions on food assistance, it now heads to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee for a hearing Monday afternoon.

House Bill 730 would make major changes to how Idaho runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP. While presented as a way to increase accountability and lower costs, the bill goes beyond federal law and adds burdensome and potentially costly new state rules.

These changes could increase paperwork, make the system more complicated, and lead to more errors. Because new federal rules tie SNAP error rates directly to state costs, HB 730 would put Idaho at risk of paying millions more to run the program.

Nearly 1 in 2 SNAP households in Idaho have children and about 1 in 4 include a senior or someone with a disability. Reach out now and tell Senators to support families, not add more red tape and paperwork.

The Committee plans to hear testimony on the bill at 3 p.m. Monday, March 16, in Room WW 54. You can register to testify in committee on the harms of HB 730 at this link for both remote and in-person testimony.

Take action and use this easy-to-use action tool to contact committee members now!
 

Take Action Now!

On Monday last week, the Senate passed S1331 by one vote!  It slashed the General Fund appropriations by approximately 4% for most agencies, cutting $191 Million in the current year.  

On Friday, the House took up the bill and passed it by 13 votes and now awaits the Governor’s decision.  Please call the Governor’s Office and ask him to VETO this bill.

Governor Little: 208-334-2100

 Call Governor Little's office and ask why they are about to allow trucks to travel 80 MPH on the freeway!  This is nothing but a way for the state to make more money and appease big business!  Despite testimony from experts that trucks are not designed to travel at that speed, and despite the danger this poses for the rest of us, the bill has been pushed through! Money over people AGAIN!  208-334-2100 

This bill passed out of the House JRA Committee today, even though many people who came prepared to testify were never given the opportunity to speak. The way the hearing was conducted by the committee chair—rushing speakers and attempting to artificially “balance” testimony for and against the bill—was deeply disappointing.

Observers in the room expressed frustration after realizing their voices would not be heard. That reaction reflects how strongly people felt about being excluded from the process.

The timeline is also concerning. This bill was introduced on the morning of March 6, scheduled for a hearing on March 9, and is already moving to the House floor. Advancing legislation this quickly leaves little meaningful opportunity for constituents and subject-matter experts to review the bill or provide input.

From the outside, it appears this legislation is being pushed forward as quickly as possible, rather than allowing time for lawmakers to fully hear from the people it will affect.

Please, send an email to the House. Beyond the troubling process, this is also a bad bill that is trying to legislate the LGBTQ community out of existence.  This tries to solve a problem that does not exist in Idaho.  (But there was a person from California who supported the bill who was allowed to testify!)

Dear House Members,

I am writing to express serious concerns about both H822 and the way the hearing in the House committee was conducted today.

This bill was introduced on Friday, March 6, scheduled for a hearing today, March 9, and is already moving to the House floor. Such a rapid timeline gives constituents, medical experts, and stakeholders almost no opportunity to review the legislation or provide meaningful input.

Equally troubling was the way the hearing itself was handled. Many people who came to testify were not given the opportunity to speak.  When members of the public feel their voices are being cut off or ignored, it undermines trust in the legislative process.

People prepared testimony in good faith, waiting and expecting to be heard. The outbursts from observers reflected frustration with a process that appeared to limit public participation on an issue that directly affects Idaho families and communities.

H822 is unwise:

It places schools and providers in difficult legal positions.

It risks the safety and trust of vulnerable youth. 

It replaces thoughtful local policies with rigid state mandates.

It is government overreach.

This legislation deserves thoughtful consideration, expert input, and full public engagement. Moving it forward this quickly sends the message that the outcome was predetermined.  I urge you to vote NO H822.

Here is a list of all House members.  Copy and paste this list into your email To line.  Ask your family and friends to do the same.

AHendersonHaws@house.idaho.gov; JAlfieri@house.idaho.gov; MVeile@house.idaho.gov; VBar@house.idaho.gov; RBeiswenger@house.idaho.gov; SBerch@house.idaho.gov; JBoyle@house.idaho.gov; CBruce@house.idaho.gov; TBurgoyne@house.idaho.gov; DCannon@house.idaho.gov; LCayler@house.idaho.gov; RCheatum@house.idaho.gov; MChurch@house.idaho.gov; DHall@house.idaho.gov; JCornilles@house.idaho.gov; BCrane@house.idaho.gov; JCrane@house.idaho.gov; SDygert@house.idaho.gov; MEgbert@house.idaho.gov; BEhardt@house.idaho.gov; JEhlers@house.idaho.gov; MErickson@house.idaho.gov; BFuhriman@house.idaho.gov; RFurniss@house.idaho.gov; SGalaviz@house.idaho.gov; JGannon@house.idaho.gov; DGarner@house.idaho.gov; BGreen@house.idaho.gov; CHandy@house.idaho.gov; KHarris@house.idaho.gov; DHawkins@house.idaho.gov; DHealey@house.idaho.gov; THill@house.idaho.gov; JHoltzclaw@house.idaho.gov; WendyHorman@house.idaho.gov; CHostetler@house.idaho.gov; DLeavitt@house.idaho.gov; DManwaring@house.idaho.gov; KMarmon@house.idaho.gov; CMathias@house.idaho.gov; LMcCann@house.idaho.gov; RMendive@house.idaho.gov; SMickelsen@house.idaho.gov; SMiller@house.idaho.gov; BMitchell@house.idaho.gov; JMonks@house.idaho.gov; MMoyle@house.idaho.gov; JNelsen@house.idaho.gov; JPalmer@house.idaho.gov; JPetzke@house.idaho.gov; DPickett@house.idaho.gov; MPohanka@house.idaho.gov; EPrice@house.idaho.gov; CRasor@house.idaho.gov; BRaybould@house.idaho.gov; JRaymond@house.idaho.gov; JRedman@house.idaho.gov; IRubel@house.idaho.gov; MSauter@house.idaho.gov; HScott@house.idaho.gov; CShepherd@house.idaho.gov; JShirts@house.idaho.gov; BSkaug@house.idaho.gov; JTanner@house.idaho.gov; STanner@house.idaho.gov; FThompson@house.idaho.gov; JVanderWoude@house.idaho.gov; JWeber@house.idaho.gov; JoshWheeler@house.idaho.gov; TWisniewski@house.idaho.gov;

Ask Your Lawmakers to Vote YES on S1374 by Noon Tuesday

Senate Bill 1374 is an important piece of legislation aimed at helping Idaho families better afford childcare. The bill will be heard tomorrow at 3 PM in the Senate Health & Welfare Committee, and lawmakers need to hear from Idahoans who support the bill before noon tomorrow.

S1374 would strengthen access to childcare in two key ways. First, it increases income eligibility for the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) from 130% to 155% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, allowing more working families to qualify for assistance with licensed care.

Second, it formally places the program in Idaho statute, providing clearer legal authority and stability for the program moving forward.

When families lose access to childcare assistance, many are forced to leave licensed care, rely on less reliable arrangements, or step away from work entirely. S1374 would help more Idaho families maintain stable childcare while supporting a strong workforce across the state.

It only takes a minute to contact your lawmakers and ask them to vote YES on S1374.

Send your message here: https://app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-page?cid=dNzEG9SGcWjiF4xd6yx6Z&lang=en

Supporters can also participate in-person, virtually, or submit written comments to the committee by registering via the agenda below.

260310_sh&w_0300PM-Agenda.pdf

Senator Risch voted in committee to advance the appointment of Steve Pearce for BLM.  Pearce is known for his:

· Past support for selling public lands

· Deep financial ties to the oil and gas industry

· Weak environmental voting record

· History of opposing national monuments and land protections

· Concerns he would prioritize industry interests over stewardship

One of our members received the following letter from Senator Risch after they expressed concern about Pearce.

The American people gave President Trump an overwhelming mandate on November 5.  As President, he is entitled to nominate the people he believes are best qualified for the job.  It is critical these key positions are filled with capable individuals committed to President Trump's agenda.

I take a deep interest in the conservation and maintenance of these treasured areas as well as continued access for all to visit and enjoy these great American places.

As a member of the United States Senate, I have a constitutional advice-and-consent role on these nominations.  This is an obligation I take seriously.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to confirm nominees that support Idahoans and defend Idaho's conservative values.

Please contact both Senators and ask for their NO vote when the nomination comes to the Seante floor.  And remind Senator Risch that Pearce does not serve the interests of Idahoans and Trump does not get a free pass on everything!

Dear Senator XXX,

I am writing to urge you to oppose the nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management.

The BLM manages hundreds of millions of acres of public land that belong to all Americans, including millions of acres here in Idaho. This position requires a leader committed to balanced stewardship of these lands for recreation, wildlife, local communities, and future generations.

Mr. Pearce’s record raises serious concerns. He has previously supported the sale of federal public lands, maintained close ties to the oil and gas industry, and consistently opposed conservation protections for public landscapes. These positions suggest he may prioritize industrial development over the long-term stewardship of lands that Americans and Idahoans value and depend on.

Public lands should remain public and be managed in a way that balances conservation, access, and responsible use.

For these reasons, I urge you to oppose this nomination.

Thank you,

Name, City

E-mail - James E Risch, U.S. Senator for Idaho

Email Me | U.S. Senator Mike Crapo

Risch's numbers:

 202-224-2752  

 208-342-7985  

Crapo's numbers:

202-224-6142

208-334-1776 

Here is an active Call to Action that can be completed in opposition to the E-Verify Enforcement bills that are so harmful to Idaho business. This bill goes to the Senate State Affairs committee. H700 only passed the House by a 37-33 vote margin. 

Please share this with your family and friends around the state!

H700, H704, and S1247 each expand state-level E-Verify enforcement in Idaho. Together, they would require more employers to use a federal verification system, add new state penalties for hiring violations, and increase regulatory and licensing consequences for Idaho businesses.

Why this matters: These proposals would significantly affect Idaho's workforce, economy, and small businesses. Industries already facing severe labor shortages--especially agriculture, dairy, construction, and family-owned operations--would experience new disruptions and higher costs. Instead of improving public safety or fixing immigration challenges, these bills risk harming everyday Idahoans and the employers who keep our state running. 

Right now, life-saving vaccinations and parental choice are once again under threat by members of the Idaho Legislature. Senate Bill 1346 would place a moratorium on vaccines and medical treatments that use genetic technology to prevent and fight infectious diseases. If passed, this bill would block Idahoans’ access to critical tools used to combat serious illness.

Quite simply, this legislation would limit medical options for families in our state. That is not the Idaho way. No matter if you are a Republican or Democrat, as Idahoans, we stand with parents and their right to make their own choices for their families.

Many groups are working hard to stop this overstepping bill, but your help is needed.  Please email the Senate Health and Welfare Committee as soon as possible and let them know you OPPOSE SB 1346.

shel@senate.idaho.gov;jvanorden@senate.idaho.gov; cbjerke@senate.idaho.gov;mharris@senate.idaho.gov; gzuiderveld@senate.idaho.gov; blenney@senate.idaho.gov;bshippy@senate.idaho.gov; cblaylock@senate.idaho.gov; jkeyser@senate.idaho.gov;mwintrow@senate.idaho.gov

Sample talking points:

I strongly oppose S1346.

Right now, life-saving vaccinations and parental choice are once again under threat in the Idaho Legislature. Senate Bill 1346 would place a sweeping moratorium on vaccines and medical treatments that use genetic technology to prevent and fight infectious diseases. If enacted, this bill would block Idahoans’ access to critical, proven tools used to combat serious illness.

At its core, S1346 limits medical options for families in our state. That is not the Idaho way. Idahoans value the freedom to make informed healthcare decisions with their trusted medical providers. This bill takes that choice away by removing safe, effective options from the table before families can even consider them.

The consequences could be serious:

• It would restrict access to modern vaccines and treatments that protect children, seniors, and medically vulnerable Idahoans.
• It could leave our state less prepared to respond to future infectious disease threats.
• It would interfere with the patient-provider relationship by substituting broad legislative bans for individualized medical judgment.
• It risks putting Idaho out of step with national standards of care and biomedical innovation.

Parents deserve the right to choose what is best for their children based on sound medical advice — not have those options preemptively eliminated by statute. Protecting choice means preserving access to the full range of safe and effective medical tools.

For these reasons, I urge lawmakers to vote NO on S1346 and to stand with Idaho families, medical freedom, and access to lifesaving care.

 HOUSE BILL 757 – Idaho State Legislature

H757 narrows the definition of medical neglect.

•   The bill defines “medical neglect” only as failure to seek care for a life-threatening condition. This is a high bar.
•  Children can suffer serious, permanent harm long before a condition becomes life-threatening. By limiting intervention to only the most extreme cases, the bill could delay help until it is too late.
• The bill makes it much harder for Child Protective Services to substantiate medical neglect.

Please Email/Call the House Health & Welfare Committee.  There are several similar bills lined up to be introduced, in case this fails, so we need to show an overwhelming response that this is not what Idahoans want. There will likely be a hearing the week of March 2nd, so please inundate the committee with your feedback.

House H&W

hhel@house.idaho.gov; JVanderWoude@house.idaho.gov; MErickson@house.idaho.gov; DHealey@house.idaho.gov; JRedman@house.idaho.gov; JoshWheeler@house.idaho.gov; RBeiswenger@house.idaho.gov; TBurgoyne@house.idaho.gov; LCayler@house.idaho.gov; BFuhriman@house.idaho.gov; DLeavitt@house.idaho.gov; LMcCann@house.idaho.gov; FThompson@house.idaho.gov; DHall@house.idaho.gov; STanner@house.idaho.gov; IRubel@house.idaho.gov; MEgbert@house.idaho.gov

Oppose H757 – Redefining Medical Neglect

I oppose H757 because it risks weakening long-standing protections for minor children and vulnerable adults.

Idaho law already respects parental and guardian authority in medical decision-making; this bill is not necessary to preserve those rights.

Revising the definition of medical neglect could narrow when professionals are able to intervene to prevent serious harm.

Ambiguity in the law may cause mandatory reporters, healthcare providers, and case workers to hesitate in urgent situations.

Delays in necessary medical care can result in permanent injury, worsening health outcomes, or death.

Medically fragile children and adults with disabilities face heightened risk under a weakened neglect standard.

The bill could create confusion and increase litigation rather than provide clarity.

Protecting parental rights and protecting vulnerable people must be balanced; H757 shifts that balance too far.

Idaho should strengthen — not dilute — its safety net for those who cannot protect themselves.

Please vote NO on H757 and pursue policies that both respect families and ensure timely, lifesaving care.

Also, here is an email action alert tool to email committee members: Do this!

Why House Bill 757 Is Harmful to Children

A bipartisan bill would force the FBI to get a warrant to read Americans’ messages and ban the federal purchase of commercial data on US residents ahead of a critical April deadline.

The bill, the Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026, repeals controversial expansions of the government's warrantless wiretapping authority while overhauling key aspects of federal surveillance law—setting up a showdown with the US intelligence community and its congressional allies weeks before a sweeping global spy program sunsets on April 20.

Call/write our MOC and say, Yes! Please!

Hello, my name is _______ and I’m calling to urge you to support the Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026.

Americans expect that their private messages and personal data will not be accessed by the government without a warrant. This bipartisan bill restores that basic constitutional protection by requiring the FBI to obtain a warrant before reading Americans’ communications.

It also closes a troubling loophole that allows the federal government to purchase sensitive data about U.S. residents from commercial data brokers, effectively bypassing Fourth Amendment protections.

Protecting national security is important, but so is protecting the privacy and constitutional rights of Americans. This bill strikes a necessary balance by strengthening oversight and restoring the warrant requirement that Americans expect.

I urge you to support the Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026.

Thank you for your time.

E-mail - James E Risch, U.S. Senator for Idaho

Email Me | U.S. Senator Mike Crapo

Contact | U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson - 2nd District of Idaho

Email Me | Congressman Russ Fulcher

Risch's numbers:

 202-224-2752  

 208-342-7985  

Crapo's numbers:

202-224-6142

208-334-1776 

Simpson's numbers:

202-225-5531

208-334-1953

Fulcher's numbers:

202-225-6611

208-888-3188

There is an avalanche of bills targeting the trans and LGBTQ community this session, and we need to show up for them in a big way. Let’s be honest — our presence may not immediately change every legislator’s vote. But that’s not the only purpose of showing up. It matters deeply to the young person sitting in the gallery wondering if their state sees them. It matters to the parent who is exhausted from defending their child’s right to exist safely. It matters to the community members who feel singled out and legislated against week after week. Solidarity is not symbolic. It is stabilizing.  When we fill the room, when we testify, when we stand quietly and respectfully in support, we send a powerful message: You are not alone. You are valued. You belong here. Sometimes showing up is about changing policy.
Sometimes it’s about protecting people’s sense of dignity and worth. Right now, showing up matters.

HOUSE BILL 607 – Idaho State Legislature is yet another bathroom bill that passed the House 53-16-1 and will be heard in the Senate State Affairs Committee, soon, likely on Thursday this week (in room WW55, 8am).  We won’t know until the last minute, because they hold back the agendas until the last minute. Please, prepare ahead of time, so when we know when the hearing will be, we can show up with strength and solidarity.

1. Prepare testimony against H607

2. Show up and sit in the hearing room

3. Send in written testimony

4. Testify!!  Speak up!!

Sample testimony, speak from your heart:

Oppose H607 – Protecting Privacy and Safety in Public Buildings Act

• Targets a small, vulnerable population. This bill disproportionately impacts transgender Idahoans, especially youth, who are simply trying to use public facilities safely and without harassment.
• Creates problems where none exist. There is no evidence of widespread safety issues in Idaho public restrooms that justify this level of state intervention.
• Invites enforcement conflicts and lawsuits. Mandating “biological sex” usage raises practical and legal questions about how this would be enforced, potentially exposing schools, cities, and taxpayers to costly litigation.
• Undermines local control. Cities, schools, and public facilities are better positioned to address privacy concerns in ways that fit their communities. A statewide mandate overrides that flexibility.
• Harms mental health and safety. Forcing transgender individuals into facilities that do not align with their gender identity increases the risk of harassment, bullying, and isolation — particularly for students.
• Does not meaningfully increase privacy. Existing laws already prohibit harassment, assault, and misconduct in public facilities. This bill does not add new protections against criminal behavior.
• Distracts from real priorities. Idaho faces serious challenges — school funding gaps, rural healthcare shortages, property tax pressures — yet legislative energy continues to focus on regulating bathrooms rather than solving fiscal and  infrastructure issues.
• Creates stigma rather than safety. Singling out a specific group under the banner of “privacy” sends a message of exclusion instead of reinforcing dignity and respect for all Idahoans.

Idaho can protect privacy and safety without legislating exclusion. Please vote NO on H607.