LOCAL GOVERNMENT – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding compensation and benefits of local boards.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

House Bill H 440 standardizes compensation for local board members in Idaho, limiting pay and benefits to protect taxpayers from excessive costs.

Reported Printed and Referred to Local Government

#aircraftandairports #animals #boards #cemeteriesandcrematoriums #counties #districts #emergencies #fireandfirefighters #healthcarefacilities #librariesandlibrarians #museums #pestsandpesticides #soil #transportation #wages #wastes #weather #weeds

Bill Information

Bill Number: H 440

Title: LOCAL GOVERNMENT – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding compensation and benefits of local boards.

Status: Reported Printed and Referred to Local Government

Introduced: March 24, 2025

Classification: Bill

Subjects: Aircraft and Airports, Animals, Boards, Cemeteries and Crematoriums, Counties, Districts, Emergencies, Fire and Firefighters, Health Care Facilities, Libraries and Librarians, Museums, Pests and Pesticides, Soil, Transportation, Wages, Wastes, Weather, Weeds

Purpose and Intent

House Bill H 440 aims to standardize the compensation and benefits for members of various local boards and authorities in Idaho. The bill seeks to protect local property taxpayers by preventing special taxing districts from providing excessive pay and benefits to board members, aligning them with other boards that typically serve without compensation.

Key Provisions

The bill proposes amendments to multiple sections of the Idaho Code, including but not limited to:

Compensation Structure:

Board members will not receive salaries but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while performing their official duties.
Members of various boards, including regional airport authorities, county fair boards, and soil conservation district supervisors, will not be entitled to retirement or health care benefits, except for those already receiving such benefits at the time the bill takes effect.

Specific Amendments Include:

Regional Airport Authority Board Members: Members will be elected for four-year terms and will be reimbursed for expenses but will not receive retirement or health care benefits.
County Fair Board Members: Similar provisions as above, emphasizing reimbursement for expenses only.
Weed Control Advisory Committee Members, Soil Conservation District Supervisors, and other local boards will have similar restrictions on compensation and benefits.

Impact

Local Taxpayers: The bill is expected to result in savings for local taxpayers by limiting the financial burden associated with compensating board members in special taxing districts.

Board Members: Members of the affected boards will need to adjust to the new compensation structure, which eliminates retirement and health care benefits for future members while allowing current members to retain their benefits until their terms expire.

Procedural Aspects

The bill was introduced and referred to the Joint Rules Committee for printing on March 24, 2025, and subsequently reported and referred to the Local Government committee on the same day.

The bill includes a declaration of emergency, indicating that its provisions may take effect immediately upon passage.

Conclusion

House Bill H 440 seeks to create a more equitable and financially responsible framework for compensating members of local boards in Idaho. By standardizing the approach to compensation and benefits, the bill aims to protect taxpayers while ensuring that board members serve their communities effectively without undue financial incentives.

Bill