📍 Local Voices Speak on May 15th during Legislative District 3 Townhall Event

To bring the legislative process closer to home, District 3 Legislators — Senator Cindy Carlson and Representative Charlie Shepherd joined a group of community members at the Grangeville Senior Center to provide a 2025 Idaho Legislative Wrap-Up. The Townhall event was hosted by Idaho County Republican Central Committee with an array of delicious sweet treats supplied by Idaho County Republican Womens Committee. The public Townhall on May 15th gave a non-partisan audience the chance to hear from those with boots on the ground, how Idaho’s legislative priorities are being shaped by their elected officials. Audience members were also invited to engage Senator Carlson and Representative Shepherd with questions. The dialogue was enriching and provided firsthand responses from both legislators.

Senator Cindy Carlson, serving on the influential Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), shared a behind-the-scenes look at the tough but necessary budgetary cuts she and other JFAC Committee members championed, in the spirit of DOGE on the Federal level.

Meanwhile, Representative Charlie Shepherd, who sits on the Taxation and Revenue Committee, focused on delivering real financial relief to Idahoans. Among others, his contributions to House Bill 40 helped usher in a $253 million reduction in personal and corporate income tax—lowering the rate to a flat 5.3%.

We thank Senator Cindy Carlson and Representative Charlie Shepherd for their attendance at the Townhall session and so appreciate their very hard work during the 2025 Idaho Legislative Session.

💰 Following is a bullet point summary of top legislative wins to follow: Tax Relief, Budget Discipline, and Individual Liberty

🔻 Major Tax Relief Initiatives

The legislature enacted over $400 million in tax reductions:

• House Bill 40: Flattened and lowered income tax rates, saving Idahoans $253 million.
• House Bill 304: Delivered property tax relief and funded school facility improvements.
• House Bill 231: Boosted the grocery tax credit to $155 per person.
• House Bill 93: Refundable tax credits for private and faith-based school tuition.

🛡️ Medical and Personal Freedom

• The Medical Freedom Act: Blocks mandates for vaccines, masks, and tests.
• House Bill 32: Bans mask mandates in schools.

🏳️‍🌈 Social & Cultural Boundaries

• House Bill 96: Bars Pride and unapproved flags on government property.
• House Bill 264: Allowed individuals to sue schools if they encounter a transgender person in a facility designated for the opposite sex.
• House Bill 83: Established state-level immigration offenses for illegal entry and reentry, modeled after a 2023 Texas law.

⚖️ Law and Order Measures

• Firing Squad Law: Establishes firing squad as primary execution method in 2026.
• Child Abuse Death Penalty: Allows capital punishment for sex crimes against minors under 12.

🧒 Education and Childcare Reform

• Senate Bill 1069: $5M for literacy coaching based on the science of reading.
• Lifetime Educator Certificates: No renewal required after 25 years.
• 5% Teacher Salary Increase: $85M investment in educators.
• House Bill 243: Relaxed childcare staffing ratios for affordability and access.

🗳️ Initiative and Election Reform

• House Bill 85: Governor can veto initiatives with less than two-thirds voter approval.

📰 Defending Free Speech

• Senate Bill 1001: Anti-SLAPP protections against speech-silencing lawsuits.
• House Bill 158: Strengthens journalist protections for confidential sources.

🎯 Takeaway: Idaho is Leading with Principle

As made clear at the May 15th townhall, Idaho isn’t waiting for the rest of the nation to figure out where it stands. Through assertive leadership, common-sense legislation, and a connection with constituents, our lawmakers are drawing a line in the sand:

• ✔️ More liberty,
• ✔️ Less government,
• ✔️ And a future shaped by Idaho values—not D.C. agendas.