Theodore Achilles

This bill expands the existing prohibition against local rent-control ordinances by now barring localities from forcing property owners from being forced to participate in any federal housing assistance program. The bill largely pertains to the federal Section 8 Housing Voucher program. Support is the Limited Government Position as landlords should not be forced to participate in federal welfare programs such as Section 8, which oftentimes places landlords at greater risk for property damage and uncollected rent.

Strengthening Property Rights and Combatting Local Government Overreach by Prohibiting Localities from Forcing Property Owners to Participate in Federal Housing Assistance Programs.

This bill imposes new wage regulations on employers who hire prisoners, stipulating the prisoners employed with a private employer must receive the same salary range offered to other employees based on experience, education, and other qualifications. The bill also requires that the employed prisoner be given all benefits offered to other similarly situated employees. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill will likely reduce employment opportunities for incarcerated individuals - which may spike recidivism. Wage requirements - like all government price controls - price individuals out of the market whose skills or situation (criminal risk) do not match the state's lofty wage and other employee benefit mandates.

Reducing Employment Opportunities for Incarcerated Individuals by Imposing Wage Requirements onto Employers.

This bill appropriates over $700 million for state colleges and universities and the State Board of Education, including funding for nearly 5,000 government employees. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it is a necessary role for government to provide quality K-12 education - ideally through school choice. College and university-level education should be funded through user fees (i.e., tuition) by those who wish to pursue their selected career path. These enormous costs should not be imposed on individuals who elect to pursue activities other than higher education, such as those who start their own businesses or work in the trades. The state must pursue every available avenue to reign in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Growing Government Bureaucracy and Ballooning Spending to Over $700 Million for Colleges and Universities and Funding for Nearly 5,000 Employees.

This bill appropriates over $2.2 million and establishes 10 full-time positions to the Commission on the Arts for 2025. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as providing funding for the arts is not a core nor necessary function of the government, rather a role of the private sector through foundations and philanthropy. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Growing Government Bureaucracy and Ballooning Spending for Unnecessary Initiatives within the Commission on the Arts.

This bill creates a new "state directed payment" program under the state's Medicaid welfare program which was expanded under Obamacare. The bill ultimately results in higher payments to hospitals and healthcare providers by gaming the federal Medicaid system. . Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows out of control Medicaid spending and places the state at even greater dependency on federal funds - a significant liability if federal funding is cut. The state and federal government must work to shrink the Medicaid system. The out of control spending, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in existing federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Growing Medicaid Spending Under Obamacare Through a New "State Directed Payment" Scheme to Hospitals which Games the System to Extract Additional Federal Funds.

This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Welfare from seeking or implementing new Medicaid (government-provided healthcare) state plan amendments or waivers that would expand coverage or increase any cost to the state without explicit legislative authority. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill reduces government dependency and helps protects taxpayers from runaway spending under the state's Medicaid welfare program.

Protecting Taxpayers from Ballooning Medicaid Welfare Spending by Requiring Legislative Approval for Expansion.

This bill prohibits the use of taxpayer funds to pay for any surgical operation or medical intervention that seeks "to affirm the individual's perception of the individual's sex in a way that is inconsistent with the individual's biological sex." Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill prevents further growth of the government welfare state. Additionally, taxpayers - many of whom may have critical views of affirming "gender dysphoria" - should not be forced to pay for such services.

Protecting Taxpayers from Being Forced to Fund Surgeries and Prescriptions for Gender Dysphoria.

This bill prohibits public institutions of higher education (colleges and universities) from asking prospective job or student applicants to provide a diversity statement. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure helps protect free speech as well as taxpayer funds from being utilized to promote politicized DEI efforts which sow division amongst Americans and are intended to further grow the role of government.

Protecting Students and Staff at Public Colleges and Universities from being Forced to Provide Diversity Statements in the Application Process or as a Condition of Employment.

This bill criminalizes ballot harvesting, defined as "the practice of third party individuals and groups… 'harvesting' absentee or mail ballots from voters and then delivering them to election officials for processing and counting." A violation of this law would be a misdemeanor, unless the violator was paid by anyone other than the voter to collect the voter's ballot, which would make the violation a felony. Exceptions are provided under the bill. Support is the Limited Government Position as maintaining strong safeguards against voter fraud are critical aspects of ensuring free and fair elections, an essential component of democracy under our nation's constitutional republic.

Strengthening Election Integrity by Criminalizing the Practice of "Ballot Harvesting".

Under current law, employers are protected from civil liability when allowing or not prohibiting the lawful storage of firearms by employees in their personal motor vehicles on the employer's business premises. This bill would expand those protections to include employers who allow or don't prohibit the lawful carrying of a firearm on an employee's person. Support is the Limited Government Position as James Madison and our nation's other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. This measure helps protect employers from civil liability for supporting their employees' Second Amendment rights and ability to defend themselves.

Strengthening Second Amendment Rights by Providing Immunity to Employers Who Allow Employee Concealed Carry.

This bill prohibits localities in the state from adopting or enforcing any guaranteed income program, unless authorized by state statute. Under the bill, a guaranteed income program is defined as "a plan funded or administered by the government under which an individual is provided with regular, unconditional cash payments to be used for any purpose by the individual." Support is the Limited Government Position as guaranteed income programs increase government dependency and wealth redistribution and run contrary to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution. While some may argue this bill undermines "local control", our founding fathers only recognized three entities within the U.S. Constitution - federal government, state government, and the individual. It is not the role for any level of government to unduly infringe the rights of individuals, therefore making preemption measures, such as this bill, necessary.

Preventing Wealth Redistribution by Prohibiting Localities from Establishing "Guaranteed Income Programs."

This bill prohibits state and local governments from imposing any additional regulations on digital assets such as bitcoin, including taxes or restrictions on the holding or mining of digital currencies. Additionally, the bill bars the state from participating in the use, development, or testing of a central bank digital currency. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill protects civil liberties by preventing creation of a government currency that allows government to track and monitor every consumer transaction. Bitcoin and other digital currencies also serve as a critical safeguard for the U.S. monetary system, especially considering the disastrous policies and actions being taken by the Federal Reserve.

Protecting Civil Liberties by Banning Central Bank Digital Currencies and Preventing Localities from Imposing Regulations on Bitcoins and Other Digital Assets.

This bill establishes a new health insurance mandate which requires most healthcare policies offered in the state that cover prescription contraceptive drugs to cover a 6-month supply of the drugs. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as each and every health insurance mandate or price control on co-payments prevents an individual or business from selecting a plan with just basic or customized coverages to fit their specific needs. As a result, health insurers are forced to only offer costly plans loaded with coverages that most individuals do not need. This can result in lower-income or younger individuals choosing to purchase no insurance plan at all due to the high cost.

Hiking Health Insurance Premiums by Mandating Health Insurance Companies Cover a 6-Month Supply of Contraceptive Drugs.

This bill imposes a litany of new regulations on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) which are largely designed to benefit local pharmacies. For example, PBMs must now use "pass-through pricing" instead of "spread pricing" systems, pass along 100% of any drug manufacture rebate, and limit patient steering among other provisions. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the nation witnessed first-hand the disastrous consequences and cost of growing government regulatory power in healthcare (i.e. Obamacare). Instead of working to promote a freer market through regulatory reduction, lawmakers added a series of new layers of regulations through this measure, including utilizing government to provide local pharmacies with more favorable outcomes in their private contract negotiations with PBMs.

Growing Government Regulatory Power within the Pharmaceutical Industry by Imposing New Mandates on Pharmacy Benefit Managers to Benefit Local Pharmacies.

This bill enters the state into an Interstate Counseling Compact, allowing licensed counselors to practice in other member states. While interstate compacts can make it easier for licensed individuals to practice in multiple states, this specific bill creates a new joint public agency and imposes fingerprint-based background checks on professional counselors. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as an unnecessary barrier to licensure and weakens civil liberties. Most government licensing entities are overly restrictive and are largely advocated by special interest seeking to restrict competition in the marketplace.

Increasing Employment Barriers and Weakening Civil Liberties by Forcing Counselors to Undergo Fingerprint-Based Background Checks to Obtain Licensure.

This bill requires any bond ballot question or official statement which includes a statement about state tax relief funds to clarify the year state tax relief funds will retire. The bill also prohibits a ballot question or official statement from including any information regarding state tax relief funds unless a specific dollar amount of such funding is guaranteed to the taxing district. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill helps protect taxpayers from growing debt due to unsound fiscal policies by local governments by ensuring voters are informed of the costs associated with the bonds.

Increasing Clarity and Transparency on Ballot Questions Pertaining to Bonds and Tax Levies.

This bill would allow the governor to develop and execute an interstate compact for border security among other states, fostering the sharing of law enforcement intelligence, sharing state and law enforcement resources, and permitting other actions deemed necessary to secure the border identified in the compact. Under the bill, the execution of the compact does not need legislative approval. Support is the Limited Government Position as ensuring public safety and national defense is arguably the most important role of government. Failure to secure our nation's border not only has catastrophic implications on the ability to maintain law and order, but also creates countless other issues ranging from welfare to the education system.

Strengthening National Security by Permitting the Governor to Enter into an Interstate Border Security Compact.

This bill ends judicial deference to agency interpretations of statutes or rules, instead requiring courts to interpret the relevant questions of law themselves. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure serves as a critical tool to combatting the regulatory overreach of unaccountable bureaucrats within government by helping restore the proper separation of powers. Similar actions should be taken at the federal level considering the disastrous decision made by the Supreme Court in the infamous Chevron deference case.

Combatting the Regulatory Overreach of Unaccountable Bureaucrats by Ending Judicial Deference to Agency Interpretations of Statutes.

This bill appropriates over $19 million and 16 full-time positions to the Office of Species Conservation for 2025, growing the budget by over 34% in the last three years and adding one new full-time position. Additionally, the budget includes over $18 million in federal grants, subjecting the agency to additional federal control and regulation. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the private sector is the best equipped to advance wildlife conservation through charitable endeavors and private operations, and this measure unnecessarily grows the size of a state agency.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending by Expanding the Office of Species Conservation Through a Bloated Budget and Expansion of Government Bureaucracy.

This bill appropriates over $36 million and 267.20 full-time positions to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses for 2025, funding a number of runaway expenditures. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as ultimately, the private sector, via certifications, rating systems, and the free market, is much better equipped to provide consumer protection while also ensuring competition and low consumer costs. Most government licensing entities are overly restrictive and are largely advocated by special interests seeking to restrict competition in the marketplace. Additionally, the state must pursue every available avenue to reign in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending and Regulatory Overreach Through an Over $36 Million Appropriation to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.

This bill requires individuals who are paid to gather signatures for initiatives and referenda to identify themselves as such when gathering signatures. The paid gatherers must verbally tell voters they are paid, wear a badge indicating they are being paid, and prominently note on their petition that they are being paid to collect the signatures. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure helps to combat abuse within the petition initiative process which has resulted in passage of multiple big government policies.

Increasing the Integrity of Ballot Initiatives Through Transparency of Paid Signature Gatherers.

This bill creates the Office of Election Crimes and Security under the authority of the Attorney General, tasked with receiving, investigating, and responding to complaints and allegations of election crimes. The office is required to provide an annual report to the governor, president of the senate, and speaker of the house detailing its investigations. Support is the Limited Government Position as maintaining strong safeguards against voter fraud is a critical aspect of ensuring free and fair elections, an essential component of democracy under our nation's constitutional republic.

Strengthening Election Integrity Through the Creation of the Office of Election Crimes and Security.

Under current law, the state and all taxing entities must publish the information regarding any personal service contract entered that is over $10,000 annual payment, regardless of where the funds are derived from. This bill would increase the report threshold requirement from $10,000 to $30,000. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill weakens transparency and makes it harder for individuals, the press and government watchdog organizations to hold officials accountable and report on government operations.

Weakening Government Transparency and Accountability by Increasing the Reporting Threshold for Service Contracts from $10,000 to $30,000.

This bill, the Equality in Financial Services Act, prohibits financial institutions with assets of more than $100 billion from "utilizing a social credit score to directly or indirectly decline to provide full and equal enjoyment in the provision of financial services." Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this government intrusion into the marketplace infringes the right of private financial service companies to set their own policies and coverage decisions. Instead of weaponizing government, lawmakers should instead work to reduce regulations and expand competition so the free marketplace can better reward and punish financial companies based on the policies they enact.

Imposing Overreaching New Regulations on the Financial Service Industry by Banning Social Credit Scores.

This bill appropriates over $4.7 billion to the Department of Health and Welfare for the state's Medicaid system which it expanded under Obamacare. Spending has grown by over 33.8% in the last three years, and this bill would authorize the creation of 24.5 additional full-time positions to expand administrative overhead within the department. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows government dependency and wasteful spending within the state's Medicaid welfare program The state must pursue every available avenue to reign in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Increasing Government Dependency and Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $4.7 Billion Appropriation for the State's Expanded Medicaid System under Obamacare.

This bill allows the state Treasurer to hold up to 7.5% in state funds in physical gold and silver, so long as the assets are maintained security in a depository specifically built for precious metals located in Idaho or in an Idaho-charted bank or credit union. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure helps ensure taxpayers are diversified and protected in the event of extreme inflation or a hyper-inflation scenario. This is especially critical considering the reckless policies of the Federal Reserve, such as quantitative easing.

Safeguarding Taxpayer Funds from Run-Away Inflation by Allowing the State Treasurer to Invest "Idle Money" in Gold and Silver.

This bill appropriates over $84 million and 20 full-time positions to the Workforce Development Council for 2025, which is a budgetary growth more than three and a half times what is needed for inflationary growth from 2022. The bill also creates three new full-time positions. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill preserves and expands an unnecessary government agency, as the private sector is best equipped to advanced workforce development. Lawmakers should instead repeal overly restrictive licensing regulations that merely serve to limit competition in the workplace. Additionally, the state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Fueling Wasteful Spending Through an Over $84 Million Appropriation (350% Increase since 2022) to the Workforce Development Council.

This bill permits an employee of a school or school district with an enhanced license to carry concealed weapons while on school property, provided that certain conditions are met. The bill also protects the employee's carry permit and information from public records requests. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure strengthens school security by improving the ability of teachers and other employees to protect students and themselves.

Strengthening School Safety by Allowing Employees to Conceal Carry on School Property.

This bill increases and clarifies work search requirements for those receiving unemployment insurance benefits. Under the bill, those receiving benefits must conduct at least five "work search actions per week," these actions include job searches, completing a resume, attending a job fair, and more. The bill clarifies what constitutes a failure to apply for suitable work and what the appropriate exceptions are (illness, injury, or immediate family emergency). Lastly, the bill requires the Idaho Department of Labor to establish an email address and web portal allowing employers to report suspected violations of the law. Support is the Limited Government Position as combatting fraud within the state's unemployment insurance system is critical to maintaining low payroll taxes for businesses which are forced to pay into the system. While unemployment insurance should not be carried out by government - rather, a system should be established whereby individuals and companies can purchase into a program on the private marketplace - lawmakers have a duty to maintain the integrity of the system.

Strengthening the Integrity of the Unemployment Insurance System Through Increased Work Search Requirements.

Under current law, an individual owner of an electrical contracting business is required to employ a full-time journeyman or master electrician. This bill requires the journeyman to now have over two thousand hours of documented experience as a licensed journeyman electrician. The bill also no longer allows an owner to act as their own journeyman electrician unless they too meet the experience requirement. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill is primarily designed to restrict competition by making it harder to start an electrical contracting business.

Restricting Competition Through an Overreaching New Mandate Which Forces Electrical Contracting Businesses to Employ an Electrician with a Greater Amount of Experience.

This bill increases the program maintenance budget for the Commission on Hispanic Affairs to an amount 54% higher than what would be appropriate taking inflation into account. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this frivolous commission is outside the proper role of government and a waste of taxpayer money.

Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Policies Through the Funding of the Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

This bill contains a long list of new regulations on automobile manufacturers and on contract agreements with their dealerships. Most notably, the bill prohibits an automobile manufacturer from selling or leasing a vehicle directly to a consumer or performing warranty repair work. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill is an egregious example of government interference in the private contracting rights of the motor vehicle industry. This protectionism merely enriches dealerships (the middleman) while preventing the free market from expanding competition and lowering costs for consumers.

Increasing Government Interference in Private Contracting Agreements Between Automobile Manufacturers and Dealers and Imposing New Protectionist Mandates.

This bill appropriates over $30 million and 257.25 full-time positions to the Liquor Division, the budget 64% higher from 2022 than what is needed for inflationary growth. The bill adds three new full-time positions, which includes a new program systems specialist. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the free market - not government central planning - is the best equipped to sell liquor, and this measure unnecessarily grows the size of a state agency. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $30 Million Appropriation (64% Higher than 2022) to the Liquor Division.

This bill allows professional counselors and marriage and family therapists to opt-out of "counseling in support of goals, outcomes, or behaviors" due to "sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical principles." Support is the Limited Government Position as businesses and individuals should have the freedom to contract and not be forced to provide a service that violates their beliefs.

Protecting the Religious Liberties of Counselors and Therapists by Ensuring They Are Not Forced to Violate their Sincerely Held Principles.

This bill is designed to reduce the regulatory authority of government employees by narrowing the scope of the extremely broad language pertaining to "temporary rules" within the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act. Additionally, the bill contains provisions which increase transparency requirements for any incorporated materials. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill helps protect against overreaching  regulations by strengthening transparency and limiting the authority of unelected government bureaucrats.

Combatting Overreaching Regulations by Limiting the Use of Temporary Agency Rules and Increasing Transparency.

This bill, based on a similar bill enacted in Texas, makes it a state crime for illegal immigrants to enter Idaho directly from a foreign country outside of an official port of entry. To enforce the new law, the bill allows local law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of individuals and permits a magistrate judge to order people who violate the law to return to their country of origin. Support is the Limited Government Position as ensuring public safety and national defense is arguably the most important role of government. Failure to enforce our nation's immigration laws not only has catastrophic implications on the ability to maintain law and order, but also creates countless other issues ranging from welfare to the education system.

Strengthening National Security by Prohibiting Illegal Immigrants from Entering the State.

This bill prohibits the state and local governments from requiring the use of face masks or other face coverings to prevent or slow the spread of disease, with exceptions, such as hospitals and health care facilities. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure helps protect individual liberties by ensuring it is individuals - not government - making the decision on whether or not to wear a face mask or face covering. This measure ensures that only a legislature accountable to the people can enact any future mask mandates.

Protecting Individual Liberties by Prohibiting Government-Imposed Mask Mandates.

Under current law, the state tracks the immunization of children through an immunization registry. This bill would change the registry from an opt-out system to an opt-in system where parents must affirmatively agree to have their child's records tracked. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure serves to protect the privacy of parents and children, ensuring it is parents - not the government - making the decision on whether their child's medical records are tracked.

Strengthening the Medical Privacy of Children by Changing the Immunization Registry System from Opt-Out to Opt-In.

This bill, called the Parental Rights in Medical Decision-Making, protects a parents' right to make health care decisions for their children and guarantee access to their children's medical records. Specifically, the bill prohibits an individual - unless provided by court order - to furnish a health care service or solicit to furnish a health care service to a minor child without obtaining the prior consent of the minor's parent, with exceptions during medical emergencies. The bill also prohibits a health care provider or government entity form denying a minor's parent access to health information that is requested by the parent. Those subject to violations of these provisions make seek relief through a private right of action. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure helps protect individual liberties and promote child safety by ensuring parents are making the medical decisions for their minor children.

Strengthening Parental Rights by Preventing Minor Medical Care without Parental Consent and Ensuring Parent Access to Child's Medical Records.

This bill appropriates over $169 million and 385.02 full-time positions to the Department of Environmental Quality for 2024, which represents an increase of nearly double the amount prescribed for inflation and general growth. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this state agency is tasked with a litany of unnecessary initiatives and grant programs. Additionally, the state must pursue every available avenue to reign in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through a $169 Million Appropriation  to the Department of Environmental Quality.

This bill prohibits state agencies and departments from donating to nongovernmental organizations or sponsoring their events without written permission from the director of such department. However, the bill does provide certain exceptions. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as a step in the right direction to increasing government integrity and preventing waste and misuse of public funds which cost taxpayers and erode public trust. Lawmakers can strengthen these restrictions by removing the exceptions granted to schools and certain boards.

Protecting Taxpayers by Prohibiting State Government Departments from Sponsoring or Donating to Non-Governmental Events or Organizations.

This bill prohibits localities from regulating the possession, sale, transfer, and manufacture of knives. Exceptions are provided under the bill that would allow schools, court houses, law enforcement and involuntary confinement facilities, and political subdivisions that regulate child care to regulate knives. Support is the Limited Government Position as James Madison and our nation's other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms (including knives) is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. This measure also helps protect against undue local regulation of the knife industry.

Strengthening Individual Liberties by Preventing Localities from Infringing the Right to Own or Carry Knives.

This bill enacts the Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) Act, which will provide financing to commercial property owners for certain government-approved improvements such as increased energy efficiency. Under the program localities may issue bonds (debt) to finance the improvements, which are then repaid through an additional assessment on their property. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as not only is it not the proper role of government to compete in the lending industry, but taxpayer funds are unnecessarily placed at risk in the event of a default. Furthermore, the C-PACE program creates additional complications in the mortgage industry concerning lien priority and debt recovery.

Competing With the Private Lending Industry and Placing Taxpayer Funds at Risk through the Establishment of a  Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) Program.

This bill largely prohibits the use of public funds or resources on behalf of or to benefit a teachers' union. Some key provisions include ensuring paid leave is not utilized for union activities, that pay raises are not designed to cover union dues, and that public money is not spent on behalf of a teachers union Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill helps protect taxpayer funds from abuse and combats teachers' unions, who often put their own interests above providing the best education possible for students.

Protecting Taxpayer Funds and Resources from being Funneled to Teachers Unions.

This bill extends the duration of postpartum coverage provided Medicaid (government-provided healthcare) from 60 days to 1 year. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows government dependency under the state's Medicaid welfare program. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Increasing Government Dependency and Ballooning Medicaid Welfare Spending by Hiking Postpartum Coverage from 60 Days to 12 Months.

This bill appropriates over $203 million and 48 full-time positions to the Department of Commerce for 2025 to cover the agency spending that has grown more than four and a half times in its base appropriates in 2022. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this measure represents an enormous hike in spending to an entity engaged in numerous unnecessary initiatives and increases the state's reliance in federal funding. The funding provided under the bill for broadband also enriches woke left-wing companies such as Comcast. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $203 Million Appropriation (450% Increase) to the Department of Commerce.

This bill would require the state government's human resources department to consider an applicants' skills, work, and relevant experience in addition to a postsecondary degree they may hold. Additionally, the bill stipulates that no state job classification may require a postsecondary degree (with exceptions) unless the job description can describe the necessity of said degree, allowing applicants to demonstrate qualifications through comparable volunteer experience, work, education, skills, and more. Support is the Limited Government Position as government hiring decisions should be based on recruitment of the most talented and qualified applicant for the position. Degree requirements are especially unnecessary in recent years due to the growing number of programs that are politicized and fail to equip students for real-world employment and careers.

Ensuring Government Can Hire the Most Qualified and Talented Employees by Reducing College Degree Requirements.

This bill appropriates over $87 million and over 190 full-time positions to the Department of Park and Recreation for 2025, an increase more than two and a half times from 2022 when accounting for inflation. The bill also creates seven new full-time positions. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the private sector is much better equipped to manage property and provide recreational services. The state should work to shrink its land holdings and rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through an Over $87.9 Million Appropriation (250% increase since 2022) to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

This bill prohibits localities from requiring the installation of an electric vehicle circuit as part of any new home construction. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill helps protect against overreaching local regulations that drive-up building costs. Homebuyers - not politicians - are best equipped to determine whether they should equip their private homes with charging infrastructure.

Combatting Local Government Overreach by Preventing Localities from Mandating Installation of Electric Vehicle Circuits in New Construction.

This bill expands the list of occupational licenses that require fingerprint-based background checks to include professional counselors, clinical professional counselors, associate marriage and family therapists, and marriage and family therapists. Additionally, the bill provides the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses with broader authority to require background checks not otherwise required by law. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill weakens civil liberties through invasive fingerprinting and background check requirements and provides even greater authority to unelected government bureaucrats. Most government licensing entities are overly restrictive and are largely advocated by special interest groups seeking to restrict competition in the marketplace.

Increasing Barriers to Employment and Weakening Civil Liberties by Providing Greater Overreaching Authority to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.

This bill appropriates over $38 million and 341.33 full-time positions to the University of Idaho Agricultural Research and Extension Services for 2025, a program "conducting research on a range of topics related to food systems, health and community development, water resources, plant science, climate change and much more." The bill creates two new full-time faculty positions that specialize in either irrigation or forestry research and a janitorial position. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the vast majority of this funding is for politicized and completely unnecessary research initiatives. The private sector (private companies, philanthropy and foundations) is the best institution to determine the need and fund such research initiatives. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Funding Politicized Research on Climate Change, Community Development and Other Wasteful Initiatives by Appropriating $38.4 Million to the University of Idaho Agricultural Research Program.

This bill provides 11 full-time positions and appropriates over $12.6 million to the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources for 2025, a budget increase from 2022 nearly four and a half times higher than what would be recommended by inflationary pressures and growth. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the free market - not government central planning - is the best mechanism to advance energy development. The state must pursue every available avenue to rein in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

ILA

Theodore Achilles