ITLA FYI


Legislative Update - Week Three

Posted by: Avery Roberts on Jan 27, 2021

 
 
We're now in the third week of the 2021 Idaho Legislative Session. The rules review process is beginning to wrap up in many of the committees and more bills are being printed every day. 

With bills, memorials, and resolutions moving forward in the legislative process testifying before legislative committees is a powerful tool to have your voice heard. This year, along with having live audio and video streaming of all committee meetings, the legislature has expanded its ability to allow for virtual testimony. This presents an exciting opportunity for more members of the public to be a part of the legislative process without having to travel to the Capitol. 

Check out our step-by-step guide below to learn how to sign up to testify remotely in a legislative committee. 
 
The official website of the Idaho Legislature, www.legislature.idaho.gov, contains a wealth of information on what's has happened, what will happen, and what is currently happening in the legislature. 

The righthand column contains several helpful links and widgets including the Committee Daily Meeting Summary.
The Committee Daily Meeting Summary is a list of all the Senate Standing Committees and House Standing Committees. The list also contains information on when and where a committee will meet. You can access the meeting agenda for each committee by clicking on the hyperlinked meeting time. 

To navigate to a specific committee site, like Judiciary, Rules & Administration, where many of our issues are heard, click on the hyperlinked name of the committee. 
There, you'll be able to see past meeting times, agendas, and recording. The upper tabs include information on who sits on the committee, a public testimony overview, and the public testimony registration. 
The Remote Testimony Registration will list the opportunities available to testify on a specific piece of legislation. Typically, this information is available a day before the legislation is heard. Once you click on the "Register to Testify" button,  yopu will be redirected to a Zoom Webinar page to complete your registration.
You will be required to fill out your contact information, the organization you are representing (if any), your position on the legislation, and a copy of your written testimony in order to register to testify. Before you testify, it is important to pay attention to specific rules a committee chair may put in place including a time limit. 
 
While the process of finding, tracking, and registering to testify on legislation may seem overwhelming, it is important to remember that we're here to help! Each day your ITLA lobby team is keeping track of any and all legislation that impacts you, your practice, and your clients. 

We'll continue sending weekly Legislative Updates and Legislative Alerts throughout the session! We appreciate your willingness to be a part of this work.

Please give us a call at (208) 345-1890 or send an email to itla@itla.org if you have any questions.