Kyle Pfannenstiel

Idaho Legislature introduces Medicaid expansion repeal bill • Idaho Capital Sun After several legislative moves to punt decisions on Medicaid budget cuts, Idaho lawmakers introduced a bill to repeal Medicaid expansion.

After several legislative moves to punt decisions on Medicaid cuts this year, Idaho Republican lawmakers on Monday introduced a bill to repeal Medicaid expansion. #idleg #idpol

Idaho House passes bill to restore presidential primary elections • Idaho Capital Sun A bill the Idaho House passed Monday would bring back the state’s presidential primary elections in March, after 2024 caucus had low turnout.

A bill the Idaho House passed Monday would bring back the state’s presidential primary elections in March. #idleg #idpol

Idaho House approves 4% budget cuts in current year for most state agencies • Idaho Capital Sun The budget cut bill heads to the governor for final consideration. Little can sign it, veto it or allow it to become law without signing it.

The bill reduces overall state funding by $192.7 million in the current year, including cutting $131.3 million from the general fund portion of the state budget. It now heads to the governor for final consideration. #idleg #idpol

Idaho lawmakers OK Medicaid budget, punting decision on governor’s proposed cuts • Idaho Capital Sun The Idaho Legislature’s budget committee voted to set the Medicaid budget without acting on the governor’s call for $22 million in cuts.

The Idaho Legislature’s budget committee voted to set the Medicaid budget without acting on the governor’s call for $22 million in cuts on Friday. #idleg #idpol

Lawmakers bring bill to phase out state funding of Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs  • Idaho Capital Sun State lawmakers introduced a renewed effort to eliminate funding for the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

Idaho Rep. Jeff Ehlers, R-Meridian, introduced a bill Thursday that would eliminate state funding for the commission by July 1, 2028, and would remove the charitable income tax credit for private donations made to the commission. #idleg #idpol

Idaho House passes bill to fine city of Boise for flying LGBTQ+ pride flag • Idaho Capital Sun The Idaho House passed a bill that would fine local and state governments for flying flags that aren’t on the Legislature’s pre-approved list.

The Idaho House widely passed a bill that would fine local and state governments for flying flags that aren’t on the Legislature’s pre-approved list. #idleg #idpol

Idaho state lawmakers delay Medicaid disability budget cut bill • Idaho Capital Sun As the Idaho Legislature’s first major Medicaid budget cut legislation debuted Thursday, House lawmakers shelved the bill for almost a week.

As the Idaho Legislature’s first major Medicaid cut legislation debuted Thursday, House lawmakers shelved the bill for almost a week. #idleg #idpol

Idaho budget committee rejects proposals to partially restore wildfire funding cuts • Idaho Capital Sun The Idaho Legislature’s budget committee rejected proposals that would have restored $285,000 in state funding for wildfire protection.

“It’s unfortunate that we are looking at these further reductions to the fire program when the fire threat and fire severity in the state is only getting worse,” Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller said. #idleg #idpol #Idahofire

Idaho lawmakers move to close gap in prison sex abuse law The proposal would expand the definition of illegal sexual contact between prison staff and an inmate to include kissing, groping

Former prosecutors say Idaho’s narrow definition of illegal sexual contact between prison staff and inmates is partly why accountability for guards accused of sexual abuse — even when a guard seemingly confesses to it — remains rare.
www.investigatewest.org/idaho-lawmak...

Anti-DEI bill for Medicaid health care providers introduced in Idaho Legislature  • Idaho Capital Sun An Idaho lawmaker introduced a bill prohibiting health care providers who accept Medicaid patients from having any "DEI" policies.

A bill introduced Wednesday in the Idaho Legislature would prohibit health care providers that accept Medicaid funding to have any “DEI” policies in employment, training or practice requirements. #idleg #idpol

Proud to be part of this reporting series. The amount of taxpayer dollars being funneled to these centers is astounding. And many of them do good work within their scope. But this public largesse hasn’t been accompanied by robust oversight. Read more:

Idaho Legislature might bring back presidential primary, after caucus had ‘dismal’ turnout • Idaho Capital Sun After Idaho’s 2024 presidential caucus drew low voter turnout, state lawmakers are considering reinstating the presidential primary.

After Idaho’s 2024 presidential caucus drew low voter turnout, Republican state lawmakers are considering reinstating the presidential primary. #idleg #idpol

Taxpayer dollars flood pregnancy centers. Oversight hasn't followed. Editor's note: This is the first report in an ongoing series.The patient came in with a belly full of blood, Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung recalled. Her pregnancy was ectopic, no longer viable, and could ha...

The first in a series about the industry that 21 states have poured millions of taxpayer dollars into since 2022. In a 50-state analysis, we found at least $491 million doled out in that timeframe.

Yet oversight remains weak, either blocked by legislators or ignored by state agencies.

Crisis Pregnancy Centers Series | News From The States Billion Dollar Baby Bump: A States Newsroom 50-state investigation examining the tax records of more than 1,600 crisis pregnancy center organizations nationwide and state and federal budgets found the...

States Newsroom conducted a 50-state investigation examining state and federal budgets, and the tax records of crisis pregnancy centers nationwide, finding that while the magnitude of public funding for them is growing, oversight is not.

NEW SERIES: www.newsfromthestates.com/tags/crisis-...

"During the private discussion, which an Idaho Capital Sun reporter observed, multiple JFAC members discussed specific dollar amounts... which potentially raises questions about JFAC’s transparency and whether public decisions are being made outside of a public meeting." #idleg

Idaho House committee rejects bill that would criminalize helping unauthorized immigrants • Idaho Capital Sun House Bill 764 is sponsored by Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, and promoted by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

An Idaho House committee on Tuesday rejected a bill to criminalize helping unauthorized immigrants. #idleg #idpol

Republicans on Idaho budget committee reject funding to comply with some Trump initiatives • Idaho Capital Sun Not providing funding to implement changes required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could lead to additional costs for Idaho down the road.

Republicans on the Idaho Legislature’s budget committee on Tuesday rejected funding requests to implement some of the initiatives President Donald Trump signed into law in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. #idleg #idpol

Oregon to nix cervical cancer diagnostic testing costs for patients, rest of US may follow suit Dr. Carrie Frederick can think of many instances over her 14 years in practice in Oregon when patients tried to negotiate their way out of diagnostic testing for cervical cancer because of the expense...

Oregon is set to become the first state in the country to require insurers to cover diagnostic testing costs for cervical cancer patients, and that policy could expand nationwide if a new federal regulation takes effect at the start of next year.

(Reposting)

Idaho secretary of state won’t give US Justice Department sensitive voter information • Idaho Capital Sun Idaho’s secretary of state said he will not give the Trump administration access to sensitive personal information about registered voters.

"Ultimately, my concern is for the privacy rights of Idahoans who have registered to vote, as secured under Idaho law,” Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane wrote to the Justice Department in a Feb. 26 letter. #idpol

McGrane wrote the DOJ revealed in a separate federal lawsuit filing that sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, were shared from federal systems “to unauthorized persons.”

“That development reinforces the importance of careful stewardship of sensitive voter information."

Idaho secretary of state won’t give US Justice Department sensitive voter information • Idaho Capital Sun Idaho’s secretary of state said he will not give the Trump administration access to sensitive personal information about registered voters.

Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane said he will not give the Trump administration access to sensitive personal information about 1 million Idaho registered voters.

The Justice Department has sued more than two dozen states for refusing its demands. #idpol

Idaho Senate committee rejects call to amend U.S. Constitution through convention • Idaho Capital Sun An Idaho Senate committee rejected a resolution that would’ve called for a never-before-used method of amending the U.S. Constitution.

An Idaho Senate committee on Monday narrowly rejected a resolution that would’ve called for a never-before-used method of amending the U.S. Constitution to balance the federal budget. #idleg #idpol

Idaho Senate narrowly approves 4% budget cuts for most state agencies, departments • Idaho Capital Sun Senate Bill 1331, the 2026 Idaho budget rescission act, reduces overall state funding by $193 million this year -- about 4% for all agencies.

Senate Bill 1331, which is also referred to as the fiscal year 2026 Idaho budget rescission act, reduces overall state funding by $192.7 million – including $131.3 million for the general fund portion of the state budget. It also reduces 110 full time positions across state government. #idleg #idpol

Idaho Legislature might bring back a family disability caregiver program that the state cut • Idaho Capital Sun Idaho lawmakers may consider reinstating a program that the state’s health agency cut last year that families to care for disabled love ones.

Idaho lawmakers may consider reinstating a program that the state’s health agency cut last year that paid parents and spouses to serve as caregivers to family members with disabilities. #idleg #idpol

Red states target SNAP fraud, errors under threat of costly federal penalties • Idaho Capital Sun State officials across the country are looking to crack down on fraud and mistakes in the nation’s largest food assistance program, SNAP.

The only states under the 6% error rate threshold, per the most recent data available from USDA, which oversees the program, were Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Idaho has $1.3 billion in rainy-day funds. Should that money help public schools? Republican Statehouse leaders say savings are meant for recessions, and spending reserves could harm the state’s credit rating.

Rainy-day funds would be a temporary fix to keep services fully funded after a string of tax cuts decreased state revenue.

GOP leaders say the money should be preserved for a recession and using it could harm the state's credit rating.

www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida...

Idaho considers an 'apocalyptic' choice for disabled people and families Difficult budget decisions in a number of states are threatening vital programs for disabled people at home and caregivers in the workforce.

Last month, Idaho Gov. Brad Little released a budget plan that would potentially dissolve the state’s home care services. The possibility has people with disabilities and their families scrambling.

NEW: Most of the Medicaid cuts passed by congressional Republicans last year don't take effect until after the midterms, but the Trump's signature law is already squeezing state Medicaid programs.

In Idaho, one service on the possible chopping block is home care for people with disabilities.

Families Defend Disability Services Amid Medicaid Cuts - KFF Health News Idaho is positioning to slash Medicaid funding as state lawmakers grapple with the effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last year. On the tab...

In the wake of the federal Big Beautiful Bill, state lawmakers in Idaho and elsewhere are mulling cuts to Medicaid services that help disabled people live at home or in their communities.

“We just hold our breath every legislative session,” says one mother.

@realbrambo.bsky.social reports ⤵️

The list is now final. Vander Woude did not file for re-election.