SINE DIE
SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATIVE SESSION | JANUARY 6 - APRIL 4, 2025
After more than three intense months, the first regular session of the Sixty-Eighth Idaho Legislature crossed the finish line on its 89th day. The House adjourned Sine Die Friday at 3:46 p.m. The Senate followed suit at 4:40 p.m.
As many of you already know, week 13 was a whirlwind. The House and Senate worked long hours, with multiple floor sessions stretching past the dinner hour and deep into the evening. The overtime work was necessary to reach agreement on multiple appropriations bills and policy initiatives deemed too essential by leadership to leave for next year. The Governor and his staff also kept pace, and by Thursday had signed and cleared his desk of all pending bills, giving the Legislature the greenlight to adjourn and get out of town Friday.
This week, the House and Senate endorsed all the remaining budgets, including those the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee was forced to retool multiple times. Budgets for transportation, environmental quality, fish and game, and the state liquor division, as well as education, health and welfare and other last-minute items were finally approved. Most of the budgets revised this week were trimmed significantly to match the more than $400 million in tax cuts approved earlier in the session. There was also a determined and coordinated effort among the new and growing bloc of fiscal conservatives to cut costs and shrink the size and scope of government, which led to budgets being rejected by one chamber or another and returned to budget writers for additional trimming. Ultimately, the Legislature met its constitutional mandate to fund the government with a budget that has a surplus and a hefty rainy day fund in case of a downturn in the economy.
The last of the committee work wrapped up Friday morning. Of the final going-home bills, Senate State Affairs narrowly rejected a bill to revamp elections for the Ada County Highway District commissioners. At the same time, members of the House State Affairs made last-minute amendments to the Medical Freedom legislation vetoed by the Governor earlier in the week.
In the final days, lawmakers approved legislation authorizing the over-the-counter sale of Ivermectin. Another bill bringing massive revisions and complications to the state’s urban renewal code advance despite enormous opposition. The Governor put his signature on legislation making child sex offenders eligible for the death penalty.
With the session now in the books, we want to say “thank you” for your patience and trust these last few weeks. Each session brings its own unique and diverse set of challenges, and this one didn’t disappoint. The dynamics at times were harsh. Pressure from an even more conservative mandate forged during last fall’s election reset expectations and, ultimately, results. This Legislature’s drive to cut spending and rein in government was evident not just in the budgetary process, but also in policies aimed at rolling back Medicaid and diversity and equity initiatives in schools and universities.
Still, our team is positive and eager to begin looking ahead and mapping out strategy this offseason to ensure we’re all in the best possible posture for next January. After a short break to spend time with family and friends, we will return to the office mid-week next week to connect and renew our focus on serving you and advancing your goals.
We are grateful for our relationship and the opportunity to represent you in the Idaho Legislature. It’s important to know that many in state government, whether they agreed with us or not, kept their doors open to our team. The fact that lawmakers continue to be willing to meet and keep an open mind is what makes our business in the statehouse so special. Relationships, trust, and honesty matter more now than ever. We pride ourselves on this. Happy Sine Die 2025.
