The 2023 session of the Idaho Legislature, spanning from January 9 to April 6, concluded with several legislative actions impacting small businesses. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported a mix of successes and halted proposals during this period.
One notable achievement was the passage of House Bill 168, which aims to safeguard unemployment insurance by requiring the Idaho Department of Labor to perform routine cross-checks of various databases. This bill was signed into law by Governor Brad Little.
Additionally, NFIB collaborated with the Idaho State Pharmacy Association to support House Bill 215 and House Bill 291. These bills address pharmacy benefit managers and introduce the Fair Pharmacy Audits Act, aiming for transparency and fairness for independent pharmacies. Both were enacted with the governor’s approval.
Environmental regulations also saw significant developments. House Bills 287 and 106 were passed to prevent mandates on electric vehicle chargers in new constructions and to prohibit local restrictions on utility connections.
Efforts to increase the minimum wage faced opposition. NFIB played a role in stopping House Bill 48, which would have allowed local governments to set their own minimum-wage rates above federal levels.
In judicial matters, Senate Bill 1148 was passed with NFIB’s support. This bill modifies the membership structure of the judicial council for enhanced transparency.
House Bill 190 was another success story for NFIB. It requires banks and credit unions holding state funds not to boycott certain industries.
Although Senate Bill 1066 did not pass, it received its first public hearings in years due to NFIB’s advocacy efforts. The bill proposes excluding state sales tax from credit card transaction fees, setting it up for potential consideration in future sessions.
