City of Boise Legislative Priorities 2025

Responding to Geothermal Infrastructure Needs 

The City of Boise manages the largest, municipally operated geothermal heating system in the country, heating over 90 buildings throughout downtown Boise. As interest in the system continues to increase, spurred by business owners and housing developers, the city sees the growth of our geothermal system as an important tool to meet the community’s energy needs and to increase public access to a key natural resource. In order to respond to these growth demands, the city is seeking a legislative change to the current Low Temperature Geothermal regulations to allow greater volume usage without the need for an accompanying water right. The removal of the water right requirements would only be permitted when said Low Temperature Geothermal water is used solely for its heating purpose and is reinjected back into the aquifer, which is the City’s practice. We are seeking legislative support for this critical change so that more businesses can access this important, local and natural energy source. 

Affordable Housing 

The City of Boise’s remains committed to addressing housing affordability, specifically to create more homes priced at Boise budgets and to preserve existing affordable homes for both homeowners and renters alike. We seek to partner with the State to jointly address the state’s housing needs. 

• State Investments: Continue appropriating funds in the State’s workforce housing trust fund which would provide critical gap financing for developers who are wanting to construct affordable housing in any community throughout the state. 
• Tax Incentives: Consider creating additional tax incentives – either tax credits or exemptions – that would offer developers another key tool to engage in the affordable housing market and increase available units across many Idaho communities.  
• Tenant Protections: Enact additional tenant protections into state law to ensure cost and fee transparency in leases as renters continue to navigate an expensive and competitive rental market. 

Support City Services

At the city, we endeavor to provide reliable public services driven largely by the voices and needs of our residents. To do so, we’ll be tracking legislation that aims to impact important city functions or services, such as: 

• Municipal budget authority and property tax allowances to ensure that the city is able to fully fund all of its public programs such as public safety personnel, wastewater infrastructure, and clean parks. 
• Transportation investments that ensure safe streets, affordable public transportation access, and a renewed commitment to pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure. 
• Community programs and partner organizations that make our communities vibrant and our businesses diverse to ensure Boise is a city for everyone.