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House Agriculture Committee lays out rules-review schedule; LSO science fellow introduced
Summary
Committee members were briefed on the rules-review docket schedule, the fourth year of zero-based regulation, and several specific rule topics. The committee also welcomed Dr. Ellen Upton, an Idaho science and technology policy fellow available as a research resource.
Boise — Representative Raymond briefed the House Agriculture Committee on the panel’s upcoming rules-review work, emphasizing that administrative rules carry the force of law and that the committee’s job is to ensure rules reflect the original legislative intent.
Raymond told members the legislature will review 145 rule dockets as a whole this year; the Agriculture Committee’s schedule begins next Monday with additional review sessions the following Wednesday (the 22nd in the sponsor’s briefing) and a planned finish near the 30th. He said this is the fourth year the legislature has practiced “zero-based regulation” and that members should watch for strikeouts and redlined additions in rule packets.
The packet the committee received was described as coming from the deputy director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture; Raymond said it explains, page by page, why each rule was proposed and why the enabling legislation was necessary. He told members rules will often be followed by negotiated rulemaking with public input later in the year for those rules tied to recent legislation.
Raymond identified several subject areas appearing on the dockets this year, including rules related to wolf and grizzly depredation, chemigation, and a fee rule for the Idaho Veterinary Association. He urged members to use the shared OneDrive folder to review rule text before meetings and offered to take time during meetings to walk through any questions rather than rushing through packets.
After the rules briefing, committee members heard an introduction of Dr. Ellen Upton, identified as an Idaho science and technology policy fellow working with the Legislature’s Staff Office (LSO). Dr. Upton said she recently completed a Ph.D. in biomedical science and offered to help the committee with research on scientific and technical questions, legislative histories and comparative state practices.
Representative Raymond and committee staff said the committee will have rule files uploaded to members’ shared drives before the next meeting and encouraged members to contact staff with access problems. The committee adjourned with a reminder that it will reconvene on Monday to begin docket review.
