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Rep. Raymond introduces RS32090 to repeal old law allowing counties to make fair boards advisory
Summary
Representative Gerald Raymond introduced RS32090 to repeal a decades-old statute that let counties with certain populations designate county fair boards as advisory; sponsor said the law is outdated and would be grandfathered for the two counties already operating under advisory status.
Representative Gerald Raymond introduced RS32090 to the House Agriculture Affairs Committee, proposing repeal of a law enacted after 1989 that gave counties above a population threshold authority to designate county fair boards as advisory and transfer responsibility for county fairs to county commissioners.
"Back in 1989 there were some challenges in Ada County ... there was legislation that was passed as a remedy," Raymond said. He summarized the statute's history: an initial population threshold was set at 100,000, later raised to 200,000, and that some have recommended raising the threshold again to 500,000. Raymond said he prefers repealing the statute rather than repeatedly changing the numeric threshold, and suggested the repeal would grandfather the two counties currently operating with advisory-only fair boards while leaving the remaining counties' arrangements unchanged.
Committee members asked procedural and practical questions. Representative Mathias sought clarification on whether the sponsor meant to repeal the law; Raymond confirmed the intent to repeal Title 22, Chapter 202A and to replace it with language that "grandfathers in the 2 counties" currently operating as advisory boards only. Representative Nelson urged the sponsor to include in the hearing record information on how the repeal would affect county commissioners and fair boards so stakeholders "stay at the table and working together." Representative McCann asked whether county commissioners had been consulted and raised concerns about cost and which entity would pay for fair operations if the relationship with county government changed. Raymond replied that counties under the 200,000 population threshold would see no change in current operations and the bill's intent is to remove the possibility of future conversion to advisory-only status.
Representative Deigert moved to introduce RS32090; Representative Mathias and others supported moving the bill to public hearing. The motion to introduce RS32090 passed by voice vote.
Next steps: RS32090 was introduced and will return for a public hearing where committee members asked the sponsor to provide clarity on practical impacts for county commissioners, fair boards and funding arrangements.
