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HB 112 Breezes Through House

House Bill 112 that provides a sales tax rebate on certain road construction materials passed the House on a 63-3-3 vote and is on its way to the Senate. The bill allows governmental agencies to receive a rebate for sales and use taxes collected and paid on road materials used in the construction, repair or replacement of highways, streets, roads and or alleys. Currently, sales and or use taxes are collected differently on road materials depending upon who owns the vehicles that are placing the road materials on the ground. Consequently, monies that are set aside for transportation are being funneled off and deposited into the general fund. This legislation will help to ensure that monies designated for transportation get used for transportation.

HB112

Changes in the Definition of a Highway SB1100

Senate bill 1100 amends existing law to revise the definition of highways to include certain public transportation and pedestrian infrastructure. The reason for this legislation is that the current definition of highways does not incorporate the current roadway design features for many of the highways in Idaho. Idaho has hundreds of roadways that have incorporated bicycle facilities and public transportation infrastructure facilities into their highways. The purpose of this legislation is to change the definition of Highways to incorporate these current practices when traffic conditions warrant the inclusion of these features in a roadway design. The proposed legislation eliminates the mandatory obligation to include all statutory designated features and gives the highway jurisdiction the ability to include the design features only when they are necessary and warranted based upon existing traffic conditions. The fiscal note states that the legislation does not require any highway district to expend any funds. There will be no negative impact to the state general fund, and it may positively impact highway district budgets by eliminating the mandatory obligation to include certain features. On Thursday the bill passed in the Senate on a 34-0-1 vote and is on to the House.

SB1100

Land Use Planning and Transportation Systems Essential Facilities SB1106

Senate bill 1106 is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee. It amends existing law to provide that local ordinances shall not apply to state and local transportation systems and essential facilities. According to the Statement of Purpose, "The current law requires land use agencies to “take into account the plans and needs” of the ITD and special purpose districts, which has proven to be inadequate. The statute also creates an exception to the applicability of local land use plans and ordinances for ITD transportation facilities. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to extend the same exception to local highway jurisdictions who have the same essential transportation needs as the ITD in complying with federal and state regulatory mandates.

Read the Bill

Highway Districts and Urban Renewal Projects SB1107

Another bill that is awaiting a hearing in the Local Government and Taxation Committee is SB1107 that amends existing law to provide that a highway district shall not be financially responsible for certain urban renewal projects unless agreed upon. This legislation has come forward to clear up some ambiguity of HB587(a) that passed during the 2020 session. House Bill 587(a) amended Idaho Code § 50-2908(2)(a) to prevent urban renewal districts from taking a highway district’s property tax increment without the highway district’s approval for any urban renewal districts created after July 1, 2020. This 2020 amendment created an ambiguity with Idaho Code § 40-1415(3), which deals with a highway district’s obligation to pay for urban renewal projects. In the fiscal note is states that a highway district budget may be positively impacted by clarifying there is no obligation to pay for urban renewal projects without an agreement between the parties.

SB1107

Idaho Transportation Board Re-Appointment

The Senate Transportation committee this week heard from Julie DeLorenzo who is up for re-appointment to the Idaho Transportation Board. The committee voted unanimously to recommend that Ms. DeLorenzo be reappointed to the Board. Gov. Butch Otter appointed Julie DeLorenzo, to the Idaho Transportation Board in 2012 to replace Darrell Manning. She is one of two women who sit on the seven member board. The Idaho Transportation Board meets once a month to oversee the operations of the Idaho Transportation Department. The Idaho Transportation Board establishes state transportation policy and guides the planning, development and management of a transportation network that is safe, efficient and enhances Idaho’s economy and quality of life. The Idaho Transportation Board normally meets six times in Boise and six times across the state annually. The governor appoints the board members, who are confirmed by the Idaho Senate. Six members represent each of ITD’s administrative districts and the seventh member is selected by the governor to serve as chairman.

Idaho Transportation Department Releases 2020 Annual Report

From ITD. Every year, ITD publishes an annual report that communicates the department’s efforts to improve the safety, mobility, and economic opportunity of Idaho’s citizens. This year, they took those efforts even further by transforming the report into something that could be easily accessed and consumed by the public — a video. In a brief eight-minute video, the annual report showcases ITD’s numerous achievements in fiscal year 2020, as well as a high level look at the department’s customer-focused performance measures. The report also shows how ITD navigated the challenges brought on by COVID-19 in 2020, by keeping Idaho’s ports of entry open and operating and continuing to provide needed services to Idaho’s citizens throughout the pandemic.

Video 2020 Report

Bill Tracker

Maintaining Idaho Roads and Bridges Track Bills That Make a Difference

S1021

TAXING DISTRICT BUDGETS

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding limitations on taxing district budgets

S1042

PUBLIC CONTRACTS

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding professional service contracts.

S1100

TRANSPORTATION

Amends existing law to revise the definition of highways to include certain public transportation and pedestrian infrastructure.

S1106

LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING

Amends existing law to provide that local ordinances shall not apply to state and local transportation systems and essential facilities.

S1107

TRANSPORTATION

Amends existing law to provide that a highway district shall not be financially responsible for certain urban renewal projects unless agreed upon.

S1108

TAXING DISTRICTS

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding a taxing district’s budget limitations.

HB90

MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS

Adds to existing law to provide for the protection of certain monuments and memorials.

HB112

SALES AND USE TAX

Adds to existing law to provide a sales tax rebate on certain road construction materials.

HB130

TRANSPORTATION

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding construction and maintenance of railroad grade crossings.

HB131

TRANSPORTATION

Amends existing law regarding sidewalks to allow for wider sidewalks or side paths if necessary.

HB133

TRANSPORTATION

Amends existing law to provide for new state and local transportation funding sources through a sales tax adjustment, a certificate of title fee adjustment, and through certain local funding opportunities through a revised Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation Fund Program to be administered by the Idaho Transportation Department.

HB159

TRANSPORTATION

Amends existing law to require that certain vehicle loads be covered and to remove exceptions.

HB160

TRANSPORTATION

Amends existing law to remove a provision regarding certain optional charges related to technical review and to remove certain sunset provisions from session laws

HB164

TRANSPORTATION

Amends existing law to provide that local jurisdictions shall not have authority to regulate off-highway vehicle traffic on sections of highway under their jurisdiction.

Upcoming Events March 9-11, 2021 Statewide Safety Fest sponsored by LHTAC November 9-11, 2021 Idaho's Local Transportation Conference-Coeur d'Alene

House Transportation Committee

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Senate Transportation Committee

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