2024 City of Boise Legislative Updates

Week 13

HB 545 – Restrictions on Local Housing Policy – OPPOSE

On Monday, April 1, Governor Little signed HB 545 into law. The restrictions now placed on the City’s tenant protection ordinances will not go into effect until July 1, 2024.

BILL STATUS: Law

HB 710aaS – Library Material Restrictions - OPPOSE

HB 710aaS was voted on by the full Senate on Wednesday, April 3 where it passed by a 24-11 vote. The bill then headed back to the full House for a floor vote to adopt the Senate amendments, which passed by a 45-24-1 vote. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Little where he has five days (including Saturday) to potentially sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or to veto the bill.

BILL STATUS: Passed both the House & Senate; awaiting possible action by Governor Little

Week 12

HB 545 – Restrictions on Local Housing Policy – OPPOSE

HB 545 was debated and voted on by the full Senate on Monday, March 25. The bill ultimately passed the Senate via a 26-9 vote. The bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk for possible signature. On Wednesday, March 27, the City sent a letter to the Governor seeking a veto on the bill, signed by over 40 local elected officials, local government organizations, nonprofit organizations and Boise leaders. The Governor now has five-days to decide to sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or to veto the bill.

BILL STATUS: Passed Senate floor vote; awaiting possible signature by Governor Little

HB 710aaS – Library Material Restrictions - OPPOSE

HB 710aaS was sent to the Senate amending order on Monday, March 25. On Thursday, March 28, the bill was amended, adding two small amendments that ultimately don’t resolve concerns regarding potential censorship of library materials. The bill now remains on the Senate reading calendar where it awaits a full Senate floor vote.

BILL STATUS: Awaiting full Senate floor vote

Week 11

HB 545 – Restrictions on Local Housing Policy – OPPOSE

HB 545 was given a public hearing in the Senate Commerce & Human Resources Committee on Tuesday, March 19 where it passed out of committee on a 5-3 vote. The bill will now head to the full Senate for a floor vote.

BILL STATUS: Passed Senate Commerce & Human Resource Committee; awaiting Senate floor vote

HB 704 – Restrictions on Municipal Electrical Code – OPPOSE

HB 704 was amended in the House after passing out of the House Business Committee. The amended bill passed the full House on a 46-23-1 vote. It is now headed to the Senate Commerce & Human Resources Committee for a potential public hearing.

BILL STATUS: Passed full House floor vote; awaiting hearing in Senate Commerce & Human Resources Committee

HB 710 – Library Material Restrictions - OPPOSE

HB 710 was heard in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Wednesday, March 20. After a two-hour hearing with overwhelming opposition, the committee chair moved to hold the bill until a future date and possible committee vote. It's unclear when it may get rescheduled for committee consideration.

BILL STATUS: Awaiting committee vote in Senate State Affairs Committee

Week 10

HB 704 – Restrictions on Municipal Electrical Code – OPPOSE

HB 704 further erodes local electrical code implementation and administration by barring local governments from requiring the installation of an electric vehicle circuit as a part of any new home construction. This proposed preemption language would roll back a City of Boise electrical code amendment requiring an available higher voltage circuit and receptacle capable of charging an electric vehicle in garages of new homes and townhouses.

This local electrical code provision was adopted in response to community interest and to ensure homeowners have the capability to charge their electric cars at home, as this segment of the vehicle market continues to expand, and the demand for more charging capabilities continues to increase.

BILL STATUS: Passed House Business Committee; awaiting full House floor vote

HB 710 – Library Material Restrictions – OPPOSE

HB 710 (formerly HB 384) creates broad legal liability against public libraries for anyone claiming dissemination of material harmful to a minor that will result in library censorship. The bill aims to restrict access to a diversity of library materials by preventing libraries from having or displaying particular books that an individual might personally feel is offensive. The bill then gives individuals the broad authority to request the removal of a book they do not like or the library would face a legal challenge and financial penalties.

At Boise Public Library we have a strong collection development policy in place which guides how we select materials and outlines how staff, the director, and the board respond to requests for reconsideration from Boise community members. We believe reading choices should be left to parents and caregivers and we support the right of parents and caregivers to choose books that are appropriate for their families. We believe the selection of library materials at every library in Idaho should be made by librarians who know that community and work to provide a wide range of materials that reflect the lives and experiences of that community.

BILL STATUS: Passed the House; awaiting hearing in Senate State Affairs Committee

Week 9

HB 506 –Restriction on Short-Term Rental Regulations – OPPOSE

HB 506 was given a hearing in the House Business Committee on Thursday, March 7. The City submitted testimony opposing the bill since the legislation would nullify the city’s own ordinance regulating short-term rentals throughout Boise. After a two-hour hearing, the committee voted to send the bill to the House Amending Order for potential revisions.

BILL STATUS: Sent to House Amending Order

HB 637 – Changes to Ada County Highway District Commission – OPPOSE

HB 637 was slated to be voted on by the full House of Representatives this week but was ultimately sent to the House Amending Order for possible amendments. It is unclear when the bill may be addressed next.

BILL STATUS: Sent to House Amending Order

Week 8

HB 545 – Restrictions on Local Housing Policy – OPPOSE

HB 545 was debated on the House floor on Monday, February 25 where it passed on a party line vote, 59-11. The bill will now head to the Senate Commerce Committee for a potential public hearing.

BILL STATUS: Passed full House floor vote

HB 637 – Changes to Ada County Highway District Commission – OPPOSE

HB 637 intends to upend the composition of the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) and partisanize local highway elections. The bill would increase the number of commissioners from five to seven, makes each commission position partisan, reduces the commissioner salaries by 50%, requires a redrawing of the commissioner boundaries, and cuts short the elected terms of some commissioners in order to implement the new commission structure.

The City of Boise opposes this bill because it has the potential to disrupt the equal representation of Boise voters in electing ACHD commissioners and it aims to inject partisan politics into the everyday roadway needs of Boise residents.

BILL STATUS: Passed House Transportation Committee; awaiting full House floor vote

SB 1327 – Eviction Shielding – SUPPORT

SB 1327 was debated on the Senate floor on Wednesday, February 27 where it passed with a 31-3-1 vote. The bill will now head to the House Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee for a potential public hearing.

BILL STATUS: Passed full Senate floor vote

Week 7

HB 545 – Restrictions on Local Housing Policy – OPPOSE

HB 545 was given a public hearing in the House Business Committee on Monday, February 19. The City provided testimony regarding the need for its source of income discrimination ordinance in Boise, how the ordinance was crafted in partnership with housing organizations as well as landlord and property manager groups, and the need to address local housing needs at the local level. The bill was ultimately voted out of the committee on a 13-4 vote, where it is now waiting for a full House floor vote.

BILL STATUS: Passed House Business Committee; waiting full House floor vote

SB 1289 - Material Reviews Process at Libraries – NUETRAL

SB 1289 was debated by the full Senate on Thursday, February 22. After extensive debate, the bill was killed on the Senate floor by a 17-18 vote.

BILL STATUS: Died Senate floor

SB 1327 – Eviction Shielding – SUPPORT

SB 1327 aims to help residents seeking housing by shielding evictions from public viewing in cases where the entire case has been dismissed, no appeal is pending for the case, or when at least three years have elapsed since the filing date of the eviction. With eviction rates rising in Boise, and across the state, this commonsense legislation strikes the appropriate balance in providing necessary information to landlords, while also recognizing the barrier to housing that eviction records create.

The bill was given a public hearing on Wednesday, February 21 in the Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee and the city sent testimony in support. The bill was approved to move out of committee and is now waiting a full Senate floor vote.

BILL STATUS: Passed Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee; waiting full Senate floor vote

Week 6

HB 493 - Restrictions on Local Mask Requirements – OPPOSE (previously HB 396) 

HB 493 conflicts with local government authority to enact public health measures that are not provided for at the state level, such as face mask requirements. The bill also limits an important public health mitigation tool that has helped us keep our businesses open, our economy working toward recovery, our kids in school and our hospitals with improved capacity to provide care for those who need it.    

BILL STATUS: Passed full House; awaiting hearing in Senate State Affairs Committee   

HB 545 – Restrictions on Local Housing Policy – OPPOSE   

The City of Boise opposes HB 545 because it preempts municipal authority to determine how to regulate the rental market so it serves the best interests of tenants and landlords.   

Boise City Council enacted a new ordinance prohibiting source of income discrimination in October 2023. The ordinance was created after extensive outreach with landlords, property managers, housing advocates and Boise residents to ensure that residents with a verifiable source of income, such as a Section 8 voucher, were not arbitrarily denied housing.  

Given how competitive Boise’s rental market is, local housing ordinances ensure renters have equitable access to shelter that is affordable and allows landlords to navigate a clear process for reviewing tenant applications. 

BILL STATUS: Introduced House Business Committee 

SB 1289 - Material Reviews Process at Libraries – NUETRAL 

SB 1289 was given a public hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday, February 12. The City submitted testimony outlining our technical feedback on the bill’s provisions regarding what aligned with current Boise Public Library policy and which legislative requirements remained unclear. Ultimately the bill was passed out of the committee and is now awaiting a full Senate floor vote. 

BILL STATUS: Passed Senate State Affairs Committee; awaiting full Senate floor vote 

Week 5

HB 506 – Restrictions on Short-Term Rental Regulations – OPPOSE

HB 506 is an attempt to preempt municipal authority to regulate short-term rentals (STR) to address the full scope of health and safety needs within the community. The City of Boise enacted a short-term rental license ordinance in May of 2022 to ensure these rental businesses had appropriate liability insurance consistent with the requirements of other businesses operating in the city, and to collect data about short-term rentals’ impact on housing affordability. If this legislation were to be enacted it would prevent the City from ensuring STR properties have adequate insurance provisions, fire protection safety measures, professional property management, among other restricted regulations.

BILL STATUS: Introduced House Business Committee

SB 1289 – Material Reviews Process at Libraries – NUETRAL

The Boise Public Library strongly rejects the notion that libraries across the state are providing inappropriate and/or obscene materials to minors. The Library’s collection development and maintenance policy, in addition to its policy for request for reconsideration, already ensures proper review of materials and provides a clear process for community members to access if they have concerns about a specific material.

SB 1289 – while a solution in search of a problem – does provides a more workable path forward for local libraries to preserve access to a diversity of materials. The definition of “material harmful to minors” will ensure that library materials with serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value are not censored or removed from circulation. And the bill ensures that the creation of the Material Review Committee, and its corresponding policies, remain with elected and/or appointed trustee members, in partnership with librarians, who know their specific community and already work to meet the needs and expectations of their community.

The City of Boise, in partnership with the Boise Public Library, reaffirms our strong belief that libraries must reflect the values of our community and should provide a diverse array of materials to meet the diverse interests and needs of our residents and patrons. The Boise Public Library will remain an inclusive and safe space for all Boiseans.

BILL STATUS: Introduced House Business Committee

Week 4

HB 415 – Guns on school property – OPPOSE

HB 415 is a bill that authorizes school personnel to carry a firearm on school property if they have an enhanced concealed carry permit. The only disclosure requirement would be that the school personnel would need to share a copy of the weapons permit with their school principal. The city, along with Boise Police Department, opposes this bill because it will create unintended consequences for law enforcement responding to public safety matters at local schools. This legislation undermines the relationship local police departments create with their local school districts to assess safety risks and create emergency response plans. It will also create chaos in the event of a school emergency as police officers are trying to determine who on the school property is authorized to carry a firearm and who is the suspected assailant.

BILL STATUS: Passed full House floor; awaiting hearing in Senate State Affairs Committee

Week 3: 

No new bills introduced in week three with impact to the city and its residents.

Week 2: 

HB 384 - Library Material Restrictions - OPPOSE  

HB 384 was given a public hearing in the House State Affairs Committee on Monday, January 15. The City submitted testimony in opposition to the bill due to fears that the legislation would result in censorship of library materials. Despite overwhelming opposition against the bill, it passed out of committee for a full floor vote by the House of Representatives. However, the bill was pulled back to the committee by its sponsors, effectively killing the bill for the meantime.  

BILL STATUS: Returned to House State Affairs Committee 

HB 396 - Restrictions on Local Mask Requirements – OPPOSE  

HB 396 conflicts with local government authority to enact public health measures that are not provided for at the state level, such as face mask requirements. The bill also limits an important public health mitigation tool that has helped us keep our businesses open, our economy working toward recovery, our kids in school and our hospitals with improved capacity to provide care for those who need it.   

BILL STATUS: Introduced House State Affairs Committee 

SB 1227 – Restriction on Municipal Public Health Authority – OPPOSE

SB 1227 would prevent municipalities from enacting laws that fill-in the gaps left in State law, specifically around health and safety measures. These safety measures ensure that City facilities and services remain open and accessible to the community, while keeping resident safety at the forefront and working to keep our local economy open.   

BILL STATUS: Introduced Senate State Affairs Committee

Week 1: 

HB 384 - Library Material Restrictions OPPOSE  

HB 384 creates broad legal liability against public libraries for anyone claiming dissemination of material harmful to a minor that will result in library censorship. The bill aims to restrict access to a diversity of library materials by preventing libraries from having or displaying particular books that an individual might personally feel is offensive. The bill then gives individuals the broad authority to request the removal of a book they do not like or the library would face a legal challenge and financial penalties.     

At Boise Public Library we have a strong collection development policy in place which guides how we select materials and outlines how staff, the director, and the board respond to requests for reconsideration from Boise community members. We believe reading choices should be left to parents and caregivers and we support the right of parents and caregivers to choose books that are appropriate for their families. We believe the selection of library materials at every library in Idaho should be made by librarians who know that community and work to provide a wide range of materials that reflect the lives and experiences of that community. 

BILL STATUS: Introduced in House State Affairs Committee 

2024 City of Boise Legislative priorities Report

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