Supporting Idaho Childcare

As a soon-to-be working mother, I know first-hand how difficult it is to find adequate and affordable childcare. Now, our Legislature is putting childcare on the line - and with it, many businesses' ability to operate, and parents' ability to go to work. Federal ARPA dollars which would stabilize the childcare system were recently pulled from JFAC and are still being held. If these $36 million are left unappropriated in Idaho, they will go back to be spent in other states.

I was encouraged by the many parents who came to protest this unbelievable move at the Capitol, but more pressure is needed. Please email JFAC members and ask them to appropriate these ARPA dollars to our childcare providers.

Read more about it here.

Bills Update

Last week was an eventful one with many new bills being considered. The bill I've been working on, S1039, which requires rental fees to be transparent and reasonable passed the Senate 23-10 and will head to the House Judiciary and Rules Committee next.

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Other big bills that may be considered in the Senate this week include:

SJR 101 opens the door for a constitutional amendment to make Idaho’s ballot initiative process more difficult, confusing, and expensive. The resolution is nearly identical to a 2021 law struck down by the Idaho Supreme Court for infringing upon a fundamental right, reserved to the people of Idaho. It will likely be debated on the Senate floor this week.

SB 1111 provides property tax relief to Idaho homeowners on their primary residence. It dedicates 4.5% of annual sales tax revenues to property tax relief, providing a subtraction from each homeowner’s total property tax bill. In addition, the bill makes a change to the Circuit Breaker by increasing the maximum value of a home that qualifies, and by raising applicant income limits so more low-income applicants qualify for the Circuit Breaker program. This bill will likely be considered in my Committee, Local Government & Property Tax, on Tuesday.

HB 149 provides a framework for those with minor non-violent, non-sexual offenses to petition for sealing of their public records. It would help ensure Idahoans have a second chance and access to opportunities that would otherwise be denied. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, received near unanimous support on the House Floor. It now heads to the Senate.

SB 1038 diverts $45 million away from public education and students to subsidize private and religious schools with no oversight or accountability. Years of chronic underfunding have forced our public schools to slash budgets for teacher and support staff salaries, extracurriculars, career technical programs, and more. Many rural schools are operating on a four-day school week to cut costs and are struggling to hire certified teachers and classroom aids. A voucher program would only make these problems worse. This bill will likely be considered by the Senate this week.

HB 24, the Idaho Launch initiative, would give high school graduates a minimum of $8,500 that could be used to pay for training programs and college degrees associated with in-demand jobs, like welding or plumbing. Idaho’s Workforce Development Council would be responsible for surveying employers to determine the state’s most in-demand jobs. The program would fill good-paying jobs currently left vacant and boost the likelihood of students staying in-state, and there are no requirements for students to work in Idaho after they graduate or earn a certificate. Students would also have to undergo career counseling prior to receiving the grant. This program will also likely be considered by the Senate this week.

S1039 is getting ready for a vote on the Senate floor.

S1039, the bill that will ensure rental fees are transparent and reasonable, soon will be considered for a vote on the Senate floor. I've been working hard on getting this passed, and hope my colleagues will agree with me that this is a moderate solution to a large problem.

Just one example of why this bill is important comes from Alex, a single mother of two who owns her own cleaning business. Last year, Alex’s cleaning business slowed when she lost two clients, to no fault of her own, and she didn't have enough income to pay her rent.

She incurred late fees every day she was unable to pay, which accumulated to $450 in less than a week. Alex finally decided to use her savings to pay her rent in order to avoid eviction, but the rent payment she made only applied to the fees. The fees continued to stack up and it was impossible to pay her rent in addition to the fees. Eventually, her landlord took her to eviction court for $500.

Nickel-and-diming folks who are already strained in our current rental market ultimately hurts all of us and leads to more landlord and tenant disputes about rent getting paid on time, as well as increases in eviction and homelessness.

I'm proud to say the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee hearing on this bill went very well, with all stakeholders speaking in support of S1039. See below just some of the articles covering the hearing:

Breaking down property tax bills

HB78

I proudly support this bipartisan legislation. It would reset the homeowner’s exemption to the level it would be at today if it hadn’t been capped in 2016, an increase from $125,000 to $224,000. It would also restore the exemption’s annual index, allowing the exemption to adjust automatically as home prices change in the future. I have been a strong advocate for this solution since I took office. It will correct the unfair tax shift that has a compounding impact on homeowners every year.

HB77

This bill uses $150 million in state revenue to reduce property taxes only for homeowners. I am glad this bill focuses on homeowners because this is the class of property taxpayer that has seen large increases. Commercial properties that were in existence in 2016 have seen a 24% decrease in their property taxes, while homeowners have seen property taxes go up 21%, on average.

However, I am concerned about the inequity in this bill. It will use sales taxes from everyone - including renters - and provide the biggest tax relief on homeowners with high home values. I would rather see us fix the shift, as H78 does, and provide renters and homeowners with more equitable tax rebates, targeting assistance to those who are at risk of getting priced or taxed out of their homes.

HB79

This bill has promising features but is also worrisome. It sends state dollars to school districts to pay off supplemental levies and school bonds and, once those are paid off, give districts funds they can use for maintenance needs.

My main concern is that it takes $50 million from the new school operations fund we established in the September Special Session, hurting our future ability increase compensation for teachers and education support staff. Additionally, it draws funds from other parts of the budget that are under water. This could create a hole in our General Fund budget, which again hurts school funding.

I am also disappointed that it increases the homeowner’s exemption to only $150,000, which doesn’t correct for even one year’s worth of the rise in home prices.

S1039 Rental Fees Memorandum

RE: S1039
TO: Idaho State Legislators
DATE: 2023 Session

S1039 requires fees to be reasonable and in writing, unless a lease agreement is oral in compliance with the Statute of Frauds. The bill also requires landlords to notify tenants of any change in fees with 30 days’ notice.   

S1039 has stakeholder support. All stakeholders affected by this issue have met consistently over the last three years and agree with the language in S1039. The bill is supported by key stakeholders including the Idaho Apartment Association (IAA) and the National Association of Property Managers and Realtors (NARPM) representing Idaho landlords, and the Idaho Asset Building Network, representing housing businesses, organizations, and tenants.

Idaho renters are challenged in this market. Renters make up one-third of Idaho’s population. In recent years, the cost of renting in Idaho has increased by 40%. One in two renters in Idaho now live paycheck-to-paycheck. Temporary job loss, a healthcare issue, or challenge with child care can easily lead to late rent payment. Evictions and homelessness in Idaho increased in 2022, and many renters are being displaced or evicted from their homes for the first time due to a temporary inability to pay their rent.

Exorbitant rental fees are a problem in Idaho. The Idaho Asset Building Network (IABN) recently surveyed 49 business and nonprofit members, which found rental fees to be one of the most common challenges tenants face. As the rental market changes, some property managers and landlords are charging renters exorbitant rental fees. Some are charging up to $100-$500 per day in late fees. One example seen recently in eviction court is a tenant who owed over $3,000 in late fees and only $500 in past due rent. In Idaho, any rent payments are first applied to fees. Even if a tenant pays their rent, it becomes impossible to catch up as fees stack up. Tenants can be evicted even if they pay their rent amount, but not fees.

Highlighting just one tenant’s story: Another example comes from Alex, a single mother of two, who owns her own cleaning business. Last year, Alex’s cleaning business slowed when she lost two clients, to no fault of her own, and she did not receive enough income to pay her rent. She incurred late fees every day she was unable to pay, which accumulated to $450 in less than a week. Alex finally decided to use her savings to pay her rent in order to avoid eviction, but the rent payment she made only applied to the fees. The fees continued to stack up. It was impossible to pay her rent in addition to the fees. Eventually, her landlord took her to eviction court for $500.

Fees have historically been required to be “reasonable” in Idaho. There are several requirements in Idaho Code that fees and other charges be reasonable, including limits to mortgages and storage facilities:

• 26-31-210(2) related to mortgages: “Any fees charged under the authority of this section must be reasonable and customary as to the type and the amount of the fee charged.”

• 55-2304(7) limiting fees for storage facilities: “ A reasonable late fee may be imposed and collected by an operator for each period that a lessee does not pay rent, fees, or other charges when due under the rental agreement, if the amount of the late fee and the conditions for imposing the fee are stated in the rental agreement. A late fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) or twenty percent (20%) of the monthly rent, whichever is greater, is a reasonable fee and will not be considered a penalty.”
  

FAQs. What does reasonable mean?  It’s a common legal term that the courts are accustomed to interpreting related to fees and many other topics. Typically, in our state and others, reasonable has been interpreted by the courts to mean that a fee is related to actual costs to the landlord.

Why should we require private parties to contract in this way?

(1) Tenants and landlords in Idaho are asking the Legislature to provide more guidance on rental fees. A number of states require property management companies to register and comply with basic best practices, but Idaho removed that requirement in 2017. This has made it a challenge for landlords in Idaho to educate their own industry and ensure bad actors aren’t making a bad name for the industry as a whole.

(2) Many other states have passed laws related to rental fees because landlords and tenants are not on equal footing in negotiating lease terms. In most instances, tenants are provided the lease on a take-it-or-leave-it basis with no opportunity to negotiate any of its terms, including provisions related to late fees. Unlike a contract between two private parties in a business transaction, a lease operates more like a contract of adhesion in practice, which is a contract where the parties are of such disproportionate bargaining power that the party of weaker bargaining power could not have negotiated for variations in the terms of the contract.

Examples from other states. In an effort to curb excessive fees associated with the late payment of rent, at least 27 other states have enacted legislation placing maximums on the amount that can be charged, along with other restrictions and limitations. Five states have enacted legislation that imposes late fee limits that combine both percentage and dollar amount maximums, and ten states have opted to cap fees based on a percentage of the monthly rent. In many other states, class action and other lawsuits have led the courts to limit fees. 

Reasonableness Requirement. Twelve states have no specified maximum that can be assessed as a late fee but instead require only that the fee is reasonable or reasonably related to the damage the landlord incurred as a result of the tenant paying late. In many of these states, the reasonableness requirement was established by the courts through litigation, rather than through legislation:

• Arizona: For residential tenancies, it is implied within its eviction statutes that late fees must be reasonable.

• California: Must be reasonably related to costs the landlord faces as a result of rent being late.

• Connecticut: Fees must bear a reasonable relationship to the actual damage that the landlord sustains, and the court may void if excessive.

• Illinois: Must be a reasonable forecast of damage caused by the breach.

• Kentucky: Must be reasonable; $20 or 20 percent of the rental fee for each month is deemed reasonable.

• Ohio: Must be reasonable in proportion to the rental rate and have a rational basis supporting the imposition of the charge.

• Oklahoma: Must be reasonably related to actual costs incurred.

• Pennsylvania: Late fees must be reasonable.

• Texas: Must be reasonable; presumed reasonable if not more than 12 percent of the amount of rent for a dwelling located in a structure that contains no more than four units or 10 percent for a structure that contains more than four units.

• Vermont: Late fee allowed if reasonably related to costs incurred.

• Washington: Presumably must be reasonable.

• West Virginia: Presumably must be reasonable.

Conclusion. Nickel-and-diming folks who are already struggling ultimately hurts all of us, leading to more landlord and tenant disputes about rent getting paid on time, as well as increases in eviction, homelessness, and of course, fees. Requiring rental fees to be transparent and reasonable is a common policy response to this problem in other states and an established tool used in Idaho Code to provide guideposts on fees. It would also help act as a deterrent for bad acting landlords in our state, and ensure that renters as consumers are protected from exorbitant fees.

Bills to keep an eye on

Many of you know that I ran for office to focus on practical issues affecting a majority of Idahoans - housing, transportation, and education - which voters at doors brought up throughout my campaign.

Unfortunately, there are many bills that have focused on social and cultural issues right out of the gate - but there are some bright spots as well. Below are some bills to keep an eye on.

An attack on the ballot initiative

SJR101 would make it even more difficult for voters to put issues that are important to them on the ballot. The ballot initiative process is already arduous and time-consuming enough. Our founders intentionally put the initiative into our Constitution to make sure voters always had a voice to overcome a potentially intractable government. I wholeheartedly believe that this is an important right that should be protected.

Public schools vs. vouchers

S1038 would move Idaho to implement a voucher education system. As discussed in my last newsletter, I'm a big supporter of public education and I believe a voucher system would only pull much-needed funding from public schools, ultimately costing our state more. Read more of my thoughts on vouchers here and this helpful summary of the failure of a voucher program in another state. My seatmate, Rep. Galaviz, is also keeping track of all education bills here.

Potential property tax solutions

A bright spot is that a few bills were introduced that could provide real property tax relief to Idahoans:

• H077 would put sales tax funds towards property tax relief.

• H078 would increase the homeowners' exemption to almost $225K and re-index home assessment values.

• H079 would establish a fund to provide funding to school districts, increase the homeowner’s exemption, increase the circuit breaker, and revise how distributions are made to the State Public Defense Fund, all of which would reduce property taxes.

I'll be considering all of these options in my role on the Local Government & Taxation Committee and I am committed to supporting the best solution for real property tax relief.

Housing initiatives are being considered in the Capitol

I've been working hard on a bill that will ensure rental fees are transparent and fair. Exorbitant rental fees were recognized as a top issue in a state-wide survey of nonprofits. I’ve worked on this bill with landlords and tenants for three years, and legislators on both sides, and I feel confident we’ve got something drafted that will protect consumers and codify best practices. So far, Senators Ricks and Trakel and Representative Hill are co-sponsoring the bill.

The bill, S1039, will soon have a hearing in the Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee. Stay tuned and contact legislators on the committee to ask them to support this helpful bill!

Today, housing advocacy day was held at the Capitol! Nonprofits from across the state came to speak with legislators about some of the biggest challenges Idahoans are facing with housing. Housing affects every facet of Idahoans' lives, and stable housing is becoming more out-of-reach for so many.

Here is an excellent fact sheet on housing from the Idaho Asset Building Network.

Idaho's Budget

For the last two weeks I participated on the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee (EORAC), which estimates what the state's budget will be each year. The committee's estimate helps guide the budget-setting process. Our committee received reports from many different stakeholders who aren't quite sure what will happen with our economy in the coming years. This committee traditionally underestimates the budget, leading to our large surplus each year while vital services go unfunded. In the end the Legislature went with a more conservative estimate.

One big barrier to getting budgets passed this year could be the House Speaker's recent proposal to change the rules for Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC), which appropriates all of our state's budgets, to require votes be separated between the House and Senate. The Legislature's current budget process has worked for decades, and the proposed change would create unnecessary barriers to critical budgets passing, allowing just five members on the 20-member committee to block budgets for any reason whatsoever. Should the proposal move forward, passing much-needed investments in education and other services will be even more of a challenge in the years to come.

I consider MLK Day a reminder of the importance of service.

As I work from the Capitol this MLK Day and Idaho Human Rights Day, I am reminded why I'm here: to serve others who have had less luck in life than me. As we serve, we are oftentimes are distracted by fights about rules, partisanship and social and cultural issues. I want to remind us all that many of our neighbors are struggling today, and there are many practical things we can do as state legislators to improve conditions of poverty.

It was disappointing to see some of the first bills come out of committees focus on abortion (see here and here) and bathrooms for trans people. Being in service to others - I believe - means solving real issues that affect everyday Idahoans. Our state is facing unprecedented growth, straining our infrastructure, public schools, and housing market, and we simply must be practical at this critical juncture in our state's history.

It's encouraging to see so many bi-partisan efforts to alleviate the housing crisis across the country. I hope that dealing with this issue will be front-and-center for our Legislature in the years to come, and I plan to be at the forefront of those conversations. I already have a couple of bills in the works that will help ensure Idahoans can stay housed - stay tuned on those.

Public schools vs. vouchers

With so many investments going to education, some legislators are already making a run to change Idaho's education system to a voucher system. This is concerning for many reasons:

• Idaho is already ranked in the top 3 for school choice by the conservative Heritage Foundation.

• A voucher system would inevitably cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in the long-term and siphon money away from our already struggling public schools.

  • Our public schools are already vastly underfunded compared to other states and are one billion dollars behind in needed facility improvements.

  • We have a serious issue with teacher and paraprofessional retention due to low pay and rising cost of living.

  • Class sizes are already pushing 40 students in many public schools due to lack of funding and a reliance on the passage of bonds for new schools to be built.

• Voucher systems disadvantage rural areas, which don't have access to private schools.

• Public schools are held to set standards which can be evaluated and monitored for performance and commitment to mission-first (not profit-first).

• Private schools can pick and choose their students, and there is no mechanism to move funds from private to public kids if they get kicked out.

• There is no research showing private school kids perform better in the short or long-term.

• ….and the list could go on.

This session, it's going to be important to protect our education system in the face of many pro-voucher efforts.

Here is additional reading about why vouchers are detrimental effects to our education.

Governor Little's State of the State

Week 1 of the 2023 Legislative session is on the books! It’s exciting to be back in the Capitol with so many familiar - and new - faces. I’ve already been hard at work and I’m hopeful this session will be fruitful for the people of Idaho.

The session was kicked off with the Governor's State of the State address. I was glad to hear about a few of his proposals: investments in education including a $6,300 boost in teacher pay and an $8,500 college scholarship to Idaho students who choose to move on to Idaho universities; and $120 million in infrastructure investments which could result in property tax relief. The Legislature will now consider the Governor's plan and make appropriations.

Read the full state of the state address here.

Idaho’s housing nonprofits need your help!

Over the last two years, Idaho saw one of the biggest rent increases in the United States: over 40%. As a result, half of Idaho renters are now paying much of their income towards rent and living paycheck to paycheck.

What would you do if you had to choose between getting needed healthcare for your child and paying your rent? These are the kinds of choices Idaho’s renting families are having to make every day.

Even with unprecedented federal funding and community support, evictions in Idaho have increased this year. Our communities have also seen an increase in the number of people entering our shelters, living in their cars, hotels, RVs, or couch-surfing. I am proud to lead my team at Jesse Tree as we have to make hard decisions every day about who we can - and cannot - serve, and support people through incredibly difficult situations.

Soon, federal funds are expiring. The federal government has indicated that they will not step up with additional support, and many of us are anxious to see what the need looks like when that safety net is gone. As pandemic funds have been depleted in other cities, evictions are already soaring.  

Idaho could soon be in a similar situation, and it now falls to the private sector and local governments to keep homelessness from worsening in Idaho. Although housing nonprofits have been working hard to replace government funds, the scale of the housing crisis is huge. It will take all of us to replace those resources and sustain the programming that nonprofits have built.

Until there is enough affordable housing in our community and half of our community’s renters are not living on the line, we must all step up to aid renters in crisis. Nonprofits will be depending on the private sector and local governments to step up to help. I hope to be a part of the solution at the state level, and if you’re a community member, now is a great time to give during Idaho’s housing nonprofits’ state-wide annual giving campaign through December 31st at www.avenuesforhope.org.

Swearing in

I was proud to swear into the Senate earlier this month. Serving our state is an honor I won't take lightly. I am already busy preparing for the session with a couple of bills that will help alleviate Idaho's housing crisis.

I will serve on the Local Government & Taxation and Transportation Committees, and the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee before the session to make budget recommendations to our Legislature.

We are all anticipating discussions around property tax relief and allocations for education funding to be hot topics. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to make sure good policy is passed, and to ensure the experiences of everyday Idahoans are considered.

I will send out regular updates throughout the session, which begins on January 9th - follow along in my newsletter, and on the Legislature's website,

We did it!

After ten months of knocking doors and countless conversations, we won with 59% of the vote!

Thank you to the voters of District 16 for trusting me with this important job — I won’t let you down and will be a strong voice for everyday Idahoans.

To the many friends, family members, and neighbors who knocked, donated, and put up yard signs: thank you! This was a grassroots effort, through and through. Let’s continue working together to keep Idaho a wonderful place to live.

I will continue to keep you updated about my efforts as District 16's State Senator-Elect - both in my newsletter and on social media. Stay tuned!

Reflecting on why I run

Make Your Voting Plan Today!

It's already time to vote! Make sure you have your voting plan in place before Election Day. The Idaho Voting Project has information to help you come up with a voting plan and research your ballot, and below is some key information:

• Check your voter registration status here.

• Check your polling locations here.

• Early voting is available at Boise, Eagle, and Meridian City Halls and the Ada County Elections office from
  Oct 24-Nov 4, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• If you order your ballot by mail, secure 24/7 ballot drop boxes are available at Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Kuna, and Star City Halls, and Ada County Elections.

• Below are some key dates to keep in mind:

  • Oct 14: Deadline to pre-register to vote before Election Day

  • Oct 24: Early Voting Begins in Ada County

  • Oct 28: Absentee Request Deadline

  • Nov 2: Last Day to Mail Ballot

  • Nov 4: Last Day to Early Vote

  • Nov 8 at 8am-8pm: Absentee Turn In/Voting ends

22 Days

We're just 22 days out from Election Day! As I have all year, I've been spending lots of time knocking doors in this beautiful fall weather.

District 16 residents are concerned about kitchen-table issues: the rising cost of housing and property taxes, our public education system, infrastructure, and the loss of reproductive rights. They also continue to be concerned by the lack of balance in our Legislature.

I’m not running for this position to grandstand on divisive, distracting cultural issues. I’m running to solve real problems that our state is facing, and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and work across the aisle to advance policies that truly benefit Idaho's working families.

As I seek to secure this D16 State Senate seat, I'd appreciate any support you can give to push me across the line. Your donation helps pay for yard signs, mailers, digital ads and text messages, and more leading up to Election Day.

We'll be going out door knocking every Sunday afternoon and Monday evening through Election Day on Nov 8. Knocking doors is fun!

Whether you're a door knocking pro or heading out for the very first time, I'd love for you to join me! 

The Affordable Housing Shortage

Last week I was on KTVB talking about the great need for affordable housing in Idaho.

Housing development has struggled to keep up with demand spurred by our explosive growth. There is now a shortage of at least 24,000 affordable units in Idaho. I go to work every day at Jesse Tree and am running for office because we need proactive solutions to keep people housed.

Without the involvement of all sectors and proactive planning, Idaho will surely become like many other states that have failed to manage the affordability crisis before it becomes a homeless crisis.

It’s time for yard signs & the special session

This summer has flown by and Election Day is just a couple of months away on November 8! Believe it or not, it's already time for yard signs to go out.

Since I moved districts in the last year, I will need to purchase hundreds of new signs! Yard signs help raise awareness about my campaign and remind folks to get out and vote. A $15 donation helps cover the cost of a yard sign and is deeply appreciated. 

You can also sign up to volunteer and request a yard sign here. I've already knocked nearly 2,000 doors in District 16 this year and whether you're a door knocking pro or heading out for the very first time, I'd love for you to join me! If you're not prone to knocking, just hosting a sign in your yard would be awesome too.

I've been knocking doors since January and am having great conversations with voters from all walks of life.  I've talked with people about their concerns about attacks on our public education system, the selling off of our public lands, and the loss of freedoms for women.

Nearly everyone I talk to is concerned about growth and our government's dire need to face down - and plan for - our state's increasing population. Many people ask me for ideas around how we can solve for the rising cost of rent. To summarize some of my ideas, I created a new webpage on my website on five things our state Legislature can do to address this problem.

The Special Session

The Legislature convened a special session last week to vote on a bill providing one-time tax rebates, ongoing corporate and income tax cuts, and ongoing investments to education, which passed.

Although I do not completely agree with everything in the bill, I'm happy to see tax rebates go back to Idahoans while we have a surplus and inflation is hitting moderate to low-income families the most. The $330 million annual investment in public schools from sales tax revenue, and $80 million to a new In-Demand Careers Fund are exactly what we need, as so many Idahoans who signed Reclaim Idaho's Quality Education Act petition have demonstrated.

But, our state's surplus may be temporary as this bill makes somewhat risky permanent tax cuts. The proposed ongoing cuts will result in hundreds of millions in revenue loss, and impact our state's ability to govern the future of Idaho - especially during a recession. Our state has growing needs, and although we've benefited from temporary federal funding, we could be putting ourselves at risk of a less balanced budget, and an inability to provide essential services, in the future. Meanwhile, about 80% of the corporate tax cuts being implemented are estimated to flow to out-of-state shareholders every year, and the top 1% of Idaho's households will benefit the most.

On balance, I would have supported this bill, but that's my full perspective. The Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy provided a good report on the bill, which you can check out here.

Join us for a meet and mingle

Join me, Representative Colin Nash and Dr. Soñia Galaviz for a family-friendly event at Esther Simplot Park — Team 16 Meet and Mingle.

We'll have hot dogs, veggie dogs, cold beverages, and popsicles.

This is a great chance to bring friends, family, or neighbors who live in District 16 and want to learn more about the Democratic candidates for the Idaho State Legislature.

Check out details about Team 16's supply drive for Taft Elementary and info about yard sign pick up below!

Meet and Mingle with Team 16
When ~ 5:30-8pm
Where ~ Esther Simplot Park - Central Pavillion
RSVP here so we bring enough food and drinks

Knock with us!

Since January, I have knocked over 1,000 doors! The last couple months have been challenging - between the shooting in Uvalde, threats to reproductive rights, white supremacists in Idaho targeting our LGBTQ friends at Pride, and seeing the difficult financial circumstances many of our neighbors are in at my day job - I have continued to channel my frustration into knocking doors.

That's why this Saturday, June 25th, I'm hoping you'll join me, Representative Colin Nash and Dr. Soñia Galaviz for a collaborative door knock at Winstead Park. Help us meet more voters where they are to talk about issues that matter to them.

TEAM 16 DOOR KNOCK
When ~ 9:30 AM - Noon
Where ~ Winstead Park
RSVP here so we bring enough snacks and drinks

Although what we see in the news can be disappointing, we have an opportunity on the local level to have conversations about accessible solutions, create relationships and connections, and build consensus to address our most immediate challenges. 

Meeting folks where they’re at

Over the last few months, I've been busy knocking on doors and meeting more of my neighbors, which has been a joy. Grassroots knocking is a constant reminder of why I ran for office in the first place: I believe local politics is where positive change begins.

Although what we see in the news can be disappointing, we have an opportunity on the local level to have conversations about accessible solutions, build relationships and connections, and address our most immediate challenges. I am constantly reminded of this in my conversations with my neighbors at doors. Over the next several months, I look forward to sharing some of my favorite conversations with you.

I am excited to announce that I am officially the Democratic candidate for Senate in District 16, and Representative Colin Nash and Dr. Soñia Galaviz are officially the Democratic candidates for the House seats in District 16! The three of us will be working together this year to reach as many voters as possible.

This Saturday, April 9th we will be hosting a collaborative knock at Catalpa Park. I hope you'll join us!

When ~ 9:30 AM - Noon
Where ~ Catalpa Park
RSVP so we bring enough snacks and drinks

Staying engaged

I've been launching my campaign for State Senate in District 16, and I'm still actively engaged in Idaho's legislative session on bills related to housing.

Rental fees remain a hot topic in the Legislature. I started the conversation around fees during my first term when I nearly passed a bill to require all rental fees be reasonable.

The Legislature is now considering HB442, which would prevent any locality from ever limiting any type of rental-related fee. As more out-of-state property managers operate in Idaho, abusive rental fees have become common practice. Taking tools away from our municipalities during a housing crisis is the wrong move. Check out my op-ed about HB442's pitfalls and email Senate Commerce & Human Resources Committee members — tell them to vote "no."

When I was Senator for District 17, I gathered stakeholders to discuss a potential state-wide limitation on application fees. This session we saw HB730 (originally HB617), a bill to require landlords clearly advertise all vacancies and only charge one application fee at a time. I testified in favor of this bill, but unfortunately, it died in the House just moments ago. Renters need real protections and I'm eager to get back in the Senate to finish what I started.

I worked to educate legislators about our state's trust fund and the challenges to developing affordable housing during my first term. I am still closely following the Governor's $50 million proposed budget for workforce housing, which affordable housing developers could access in the years to come. I'm eager to see through the passage of this budget.

Although it looks like funding won't go into the state's trust fund, it will still create a fund for much-needed bridge funding. As I noted in this op-ed, this type of funding can be used to enable and empower businesses and local governments across Idaho. The fund would help create tailored housing developments, boosting supply and lowering costs for Idaho communities. This bill just passed through the House and will head to the Senate next!

Even as busy as I've been on the campaign trail, I've found it meaningful to stay engaged in the Legislative process to advocate for sensible policies that will keep Idaho an incredible place to live. I hope you'll find ways to get involved as well!