AAUW Advocacy | of Idaho

2019 Idaho Legislative Session

The AAUW Idaho Statehouse Lobby Corps is watching the following bills:

H0064 Abortion Complications-Amends existing law to revise a definition and to revise provisions regarding abortion complication reporting. Printed and Referred to State Affairs.

Keep an eye on this! We found out this morning (Feb 1) that State Affairs snuck in a hearing at 9:00am. It is reported out of Committee with a Do Pass recommendation and filed for Second Reading.

S1003 Human Trafficking-Adds to existing law to provide for diversion for a minor victim of human trafficking, to provide certain conditions for diversion, and to provide an affirmative defense. Printed and referred to Judiciary & Rules.

S1005 Human Trafficking-Amends and repeals existing law to revise legislative intent, to revise the definition of “human trafficking,” to define terms, and to revise the penalty for human trafficking. Filed for Third Reading, Retained on calendar.

S1015 Civil Rights-Amends existing law to provide that freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity is a civil right. Printed referred to State Affairs.

HJR001 submitted by Representative Wintrow-Amend Article 1 of the Constitution of the State of Idaho to add New Section 24 to include “equality of rights and responsibilities under the laws shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex”.

New Education Funding Formula will be a major ongoing topic this session. It affects all Idaho school districts and there is a huge learning curve as to how the formula works and how it will affect each district.

Key Resources for Members

Visit the AAUW national website’s Issues Advocacy pages to learn more about AAUW’s public policy priorities. From this page, you may access the AAUW Voting Record, Fact Sheets and Position Papers, become a Two-Minute Activist, subscribe to the AAUW Action Network, and subscribe to our monthly public policy newsletter.

Visit the Idaho State Legislature page to locate and contact your elected officials. If you live outside of Boise and travel is difficult, take advantage of the 2018 Remote Testimony Pilot Project. Please write your legislators to let them know your position on our issues: your comments do count! Be respectful, concise, and be sure to include your full contact information (name and address are required; phone number is optional) when corresponding via email with legislators. Find sample letters from the 2016 session here. Scroll down this page to the “Contact Your Elected Officials” section for more tips.

Add the Words Rally Jan. 17, 2015

To find Idaho legislative reading calendars and agendas in order to track bills during the winter session, check the Senate and House calendars in the side bar of the main page (you may also sign up here for the bill tracker to receive updates via email on bills of interest from the legislative services office) . Look up bills by subject to review fiscal impact, read full bill text (after printing) and find voting records.

Tune in to Idaho Public Television’s (IPTV) Idaho in Session: Legislature Live to live stream hearings (and more) during the session (usually January–March). Follow Betsy Russell’s blog, Eye on Boise, and Idaho Reports for up-to-date reporting.

Submit a Letter to the Editor

Gloria Steinem at AAUW Convention, photo by Janet House

Use the letter writing tips found in the Key Resources section above. Generally speaking, to submit a letter, go to the publication’s Opinion page or click on Services for a submission form.

- - - Boise — Idaho Statesman and Boise Weekly
    - Coeur d’Alene — Spokesman Review and Coeur d’Alene Press
    - Fort Hall — Sho-Ban News
    - Idaho Falls — Post Register
    - Ketchum — Idaho Mountain Express
    - Lewiston — Lewiston Tribune
    - McCall — The Star News
    - Moscow — Moscow-Pullman Daily News
    - Nampa — Idaho Press
    - Pocatello — Idaho State Journal
    - Rexburg — The Standard Journal
    - Sandpoint — Bonner County Daily Bee
    - Twin Falls — Magic Valley Times-News

Contact Your Elected Officials

Visit the Idaho Legislature Home Page to reach legislators and elected congressional officials, get information on committee meetings, current issues, and track bills online by subject. To send a message to an entire committee during the Idaho legislative session, select How to Contact Legislators and click on Contact by Committee. Choose the appropriate committee, then email each legislator via the form provided (it’s easiest to copy and paste your message into the form). You may also contact committee members individually by typing the legislator’s first initial and last name, followed by @house.idaho.gov or @senate.idaho.gov.

The President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500 www.whitehouse.gov

White House comments: 202/456-1111
U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202/224-3121

For more than a century, AAUW has influenced public policy debate on critical issues such as education, Social Security, sex discrimination, civil rights, reproductive choice, affirmative action, Title IX, welfare reform, vocational education, pay equity, family and medical leave, and health care reform.

Did you know that Idaho’s Senator Jim Risch voted against reauthorization of VAWA (the Violence Against Women Act), the Paycheck Fairness Act and a host of other AAUW priorities? Please review AAUW Action Fund’s Congressional Voting Record to see how our elected delegation voted (it’s not good). Spread the word. Support AAUW’s work by donating at the AAUW Action Fund site. The AAUW Action Fund advances equity for women and girls through member activism and voter mobilization.

Vote!

You know that the most powerful tool we have is our vote. But do your friends and family know? What about your co-workers and neighbors? Anyone can check their voter registration status – their power – by visiting AAUW coalition partner canivote.org. Invite everyone on your contact list to check their status today! You may also find official information specifically for Idaho voters at Idaho Votes. Be sure to cast your ballot on all elections throughout the year: vote absentee. Download absentee ballots requests for primary and general elections. To find the address of your county clerk so you can mail in your form, click here.

Additional Resources

AAUW Idaho Priority Issues 2017-19

Andrus Center for Public Policy

Close the Gap Idaho: Sign up to follow efforts to close the health insurance coverage gap in Idaho. In addition, support Idahoans for Healthcare in its effort to expand Medicaid at the ballot box in the fall of 2018.

Go Lead Idaho: A nonprofit motivating women to lead and demonstrating why it matters.

Human Trafficking: AAUW Idaho has worked with the director of the Idaho Trafficking of Human Beings Awareness Campaign. If you would like more information on this effort, including training opportunities in Idaho, please email Merikay Jost. For AAUW’s position on this issue, check out AAUW’s Quick Facts on Human Trafficking.

Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho aeyc): Advancing Idaho’s early learning profession.

Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy: Learn about Education Funding Challenges and Realities in Idaho.

Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

Idaho Education Association

Idaho Education News

Idaho Women Lawyers

Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest

Reclaim Idaho: Petition drive to put Medicaid Expansion on the ballot in 2018

TransForm Idaho

United Vision for Idaho

: In support of Planned Parenthood & Reproductive Rights

: Rep. Elaine Smith, Carol Stirling, Julie Custer, Gayle Wilde, Kathy Haley

: AAUW Idaho President Kathy Scott, Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, AAUW Idaho VP Public Policy Gayle Wilde, AAUW Boise Branch President Julie Custer