Ways and Means committee introduces multiple draft bills, including state guest-worker plan and divestment language

The Ways and Means Committee introduced a series of requests (RS) to draft legislation covering investment divestment, a state agricultural guest‑worker program, procurement timelines, education graduation requirements and other measures during a committee meeting.

Representative Jaren Crane introduced a proposal to create a state-level, year‑round agricultural guest‑worker program administered by the Idaho Department of Labor, saying the measure is intended to address worker shortages in farming, ranching, dairy operations and processing. "The federal government's failure to find a resolution to this issue requires that states are going to seek state based solutions," Crane said. The proposal would limit eligibility to Idaho residents who have not previously been deported or refused admission, require background checks and fingerprints, bar permitted workers from driving on public roadways, and require payment of state and federal income taxes.

Representative Ted Hill presented RS32399C1, described as legislation to direct divestment of state public investment or pension dollars from companies that expose funds to countries designated as foreign adversaries. Hill cited federal designations, saying the list includes the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, North Korea and Cuba. "The intent of this legislation will require the divestment of any state of Idaho's public investment or pension dollars that will be put at risk in countries that are identified as foreign adversaries," Hill said. Committee members asked about practical implementation, including how index funds and pooled investments would be handled; Hill said staff had prepared multi‑page analyses and that rollout could take time to avoid significant losses.

Representative Britt Raybould presented RS32446, a package of procurement clarifications aimed at providing vendors and agencies with more predictable timelines. Raybould said the draft would require agencies to supply additional information with budget requests and produce a draft RFP for acquisitions of $250,000 or more that will require competitive bidding. The measure also includes timelines for vendor responses and state review, disclosure requirements on vendor expenditures and a cooling‑off period for state employees moving to vendor employment. Raybould noted third‑party reviews (for example, CMS) can add up to 60 days and the bill accounts for such delays in its timelines.

Representative Dale Hawkins presented RS32455, which would move high school graduation requirements from administrative rule into statute. Supporters said the bill codifies existing requirements; opponents said it undercuts local educational professionals and duplicates rule review processes. Representative Birch said she would not support the motion, expressing confidence in current rule review processes. The motion to introduce RS32455 carried after a voice vote in which a single "nay" was recorded and the nays were asked whether they wished to be recorded.

Representative John Van der Rada reintroduced language for the broadband advisory board (RS32449) as a replacement for House Bill 170, saying edits were made to incorporate requested language changes. He told the committee that federal grant funds would be used to pay contractors or third parties involved in administering grant award processes, answering a question about how an "independent third party" could be engaged without state expenditures.

Other RS introductions included RS32470 (a reintroduction of House Bill 145, the "dig once" transportation measure with microtrenching language removed), RS32469 (a proposal requiring a public process and a right to be heard for property owners affected by wildlife transplants or relocations), and RS32485 (a measure clarifying manufacturers' and sellers' duties to warn users of product risks related to agricultural products and the standard of scientific evidence required to challenge those warnings). Committee members generally deferred substantive debate to full hearings where more detail and data are expected.

All motions to introduce the RS requests were approved by voice vote. Committee adjourned "subject to call of the chair."