Idaho House adopts resolution allowing legislators to donate pay to tax-relief fund after extended debate

The Idaho House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 4 on a roll call after extended floor debate, voting 61 ayes to 7 nays with 5 members absent or excused. The resolution authorizes individual legislators to donate all or a portion of their compensation to the tax relief fund established in Idaho Code —7-8-11.

The resolution does not increase pay; it simply provides a mechanism for members who object to their compensation to return money to the tax relief fund. Representative (District 22), who sponsored the resolution, told the chamber, "If you think that you individually, as an individual, are paid too much ... then take your money that you were getting and donate it to a tax relief fund." The sponsor framed the measure as a personal option rather than a pay change.

Why it matters: the measure was the focus of repeated, sometimes heated debate and questions about legislative compensation, transparency and priorities. Speakers on the floor repeatedly raised constituent concerns about the size and timing of the pay changes that prompted the resolution and whether the body should be addressing other policy matters before or instead of discussing compensation.

Debate and details: The resolution text (read in full on the floor) traces the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation's November 6, 2024 motion to set a new base legislative salary of $25,000 for the period beginning Dec. 1, 2024, and summarizes that this represents an increase of $4,432 (about 26%) over the previous base of $19,913. The resolution notes comparative percentage increases cited on the floor for judges, constitutional officers, the lieutenant governor and average state employees; it states that the Citizens Committee is the constitutional body that sets legislative compensation under Article III, Section 23 of the Idaho Constitution.

Supporters argued the measure preserves the citizen-legislature model by making service more viable for working Idahoans and offering a voluntary option for members who object to the committee's action. Representative (District 12) described the difficulty of balancing legislative service with outside employment and said modest compensation helps recruit a broader cross-section of residents.

Opponents said the resolution was a symbolic gesture that failed to address what they called the larger problem of a sizable raise and that the optics were poor during a period of high inflation. Representative (District 11) urged members to vote the pay recommendation down rather than rely on a post-hoc donation option. Another member asked procedural questions during debate to keep discussion focused on the resolution's text.

Procedural history and votes: The House first suspended rules to take up HCR 4 immediately; that suspension passed 59 ayes, 5 nays, 6 absent/excused. A separate motion to place the resolution on general orders failed earlier on a roll call (5 ayes, 63 nays, 2 absent/excused). After extended debate, the House approved the resolution on final passage, 61 ayes, 7 nays, 5 absent/excused. The resolution now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

Relevant authorities and clarifications: The resolution references Article III, Section 23 of the Idaho Constitution (citizens committee authority) and the tax relief fund established in Idaho Code —7-8-11. The resolution itself does not change salaries; the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation is the constitutional entity that sets the compensation rates cited on the floor.

What remains unresolved: Because the resolution only authorizes donations, it does not alter how the Citizens Committee sets pay. Members who want to return money would need whatever administrative process the Tax Commission or the Legislature establishes to effect payments to the tax relief fund.