 Idaho’s Primary Election is Tuesday, May 20 — are you ready to vote? The Chamber is here to help you feel informed and confident as you head to the polls.
Ada County Elections and Vote Idaho are excellent resources to:
To get a personalized look at what’s on your ballot—and why it matters—check out KTVB’s voter guide for helpful insights on the races, candidates, and the importance of local elections. Staying informed and participating in local elections is one of the most impactful ways to support a strong and vibrant Idaho - Go vote!!
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 Dear Readers,
The Treasury Department has announced it will no longer enforce penalties or fines under the Corporate Transparency Act’s beneficial ownership reporting rule. A forthcoming rule change will limit the requirement to foreign reporting companies only—a win for U.S. small businesses and taxpayers!
To read the Treasury Department's press release click here. We will share more updates as the rule making process continues. As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out! Stay well, Tori  Dear Readers,
We just began the 8th week of the legislature! Below are some of the recent legislation we’ve seen as well a federal update. Local Issues: Launch remains one of the Chamber’s biggest priorities. The Idaho Senate recently approved funding for the program and now it will head to the House. We are very grateful for their leadership and the work that continues to be done to move this program forward. We highly recommend reaching out to your legislators to show your support for this program. If you’re not sure who your legislators are, here is the link to find out! House Bill 93 - This is the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit bill. It passed both the house and senate and was delivered to the Governor on February 21st. The Governor has 5 days upon receiving legislation to make a decision. House Bill 74 has been reprinted as House Bill 304. This property tax relief bill aims to offer ongoing tax relief as well as ongoing funding for school facilities. Earlier this month, the Idaho Chamber Allliance hosted their annual Chamber Day conference. We hosted it at the Lincoln Auditorium in the Capitol and discussed an array of topics that impact businesses and local chambers. Pictured is the Idaho Chamber Alliance Executive Team with Governor Brad Little and Lt. Governor Scott Bedke. Federal Issues: I recently posted about the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) being on hold however as of February 19th, 2025, BOI reporting requirements under the CTA are back in effect. The updated deadline is now March 21st, 2025, with a possibility of modifications. To learn more about how to report, you can visit the FinCEN website here. Below is a recent email from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sharing more information and the work they're doing for small businesses regarding BOI reporting: "The Corporate Transparency Act's (CTA) beneficial ownership reporting requirements are back on.
Thank you for reading. As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss anything further, please don't hesitate to reach out! Stay well, Tori  Dear Readers,
We’re ending the fourth week of the 68th legislative session and have seen numerous pieces of legislation regarding vouchers/school choice, income/property tax, Medicaid expansion repeal and transportation funding. Below are just a few of the bills the Chamber’s policy committee is reviewing:
JFAC continues with the new process they adopted last year, establishing a maintenance budget as the baseline - this only includes costs that are required to maintain current government operations and programs. Once the baseline budget is established and agreed upon, they hear from agencies about their new spending budgets and additional costs, evaluating what aligns with state goals. As of January 17th, JFAC has set the maintenance budget for FY26, totaling $12.6 billion. Over the next couple of months, they will continue to vote on new spending requests, supplemental funding requests and CEC (changes in employee compensation). If you'd like to check out the budget requests, click here. There are also several news articles discussing the past week in JFAC if you're interested:
Federally, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the federal freezes as well as the executive orders that may impact businesses. The U.S. Chamber released a memo regarding President Trump’s executive orders. This brief summary focuses on issues that are most relevant to the business community including finance and banking, trade and foreign affairs, employment policies, border security and immigration, and energy and environmental policy. To read the memo, click here. Last January, I shared about the Corporate Transparency Act, requiring small businesses to file corporate transparency reports with beneficial ownership information (BOI). This act is currently on hold and there are no filing requirements as of this time. I will continue to keep you updated if anything changes. If you’d like to learn more about this, click here. Boise State’s School of Public Policy Recently released their Tenth Annual Statewide Survey. 1,000 Adult Idahoans were surveyed on topics including economy, taxes, elections, education, housing and healthcare. Workforce and affordable housing continue to be Idahoans top legislative budget priority. To learn more and review the survey, click here. We recently released a survey (not to be confused or compared to Boise State's School of Public Policy's survey) asking our members if access to housing and affordable childcare has impacted their ability to recruit and retain talent. Click here to take the survey. Stay tuned for more updates and as always if you have any questions or would like to put something on the Chamber’s radar, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Stay well, Tori Thomas  Dear Readers,
Interested in reading the top-performing articles among the small business community from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? From business ideas to researching the competition, CO—by U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a resource that provides practical and real-world advice on how to run your business—from managing your employees to keeping the books. Check out these articles from CO–: 4 Ways to Make Your Business More Sustainable
11 Things to Do During Small Business Month to Grow Your Company
15 Free Resources for Small Businesses to Leverage Year-Round
7 Small Business Month Events to Register for Now
How Entrepreneurs Can Find a Business Mentor
Stay well, Tori Thomas Community and Government Affairs Manager, Boise Metro Chamber  Dear Readers,
Imagine the scene: it’s mid-May, April showers brought May flowers, and Idaho’s Primary Election is just one week away. You're all set – registered to vote, knowing your polling place or ready for early voting. There's a buzz in the air, a sense of excitement mixed with empowerment. But then, a crucial question arises: "Who should I vote for?" Don't worry, our members have your back! There are numerous resources when making the decision to vote. Last week we shared voteidaho.gov, which offers great resources regarding how to vote, election data and more. Below we wanted to share the expertise of a few of our members. There is so much information being distributed and through trusted sources like these, we believe you’ll feel ready to head to the polls! Recently, KTVB's voter guide was released, which provides information about each race coming up and what you can expect to see on your ballot. They also have multiple articles regarding the upcoming election. The Idaho EdNews voter guide focuses on the legislative race, with candidates that have a role within education policy. They asked candidates about their most important education priorities and where they stand regarding education issues that divide the legislature. Idaho EdNews wants to ensure Idahoans aren’t just voters, but educated ones. Idaho Statesman's voter guide “will help you decide your favorite candidates based on their own words.” They asked candidates in contested races multiple questions including what their top priorities are and what they feel their district needs most in a legislator. You will need a subscription to view this voter guide. Additionally, below are three ways to make the most out of your voting experience.
Stay well and happy voting! Tori Thomas Community and Government Affairs Manager, Boise Metro Chamber  Dear Readers,
It’s that time of year again! The Idaho Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21st, 2024. This election is to choose party candidates for federal, state, and county positions. The candidates with the most votes in the primary will proceed to the general election. There are multiple races in the upcoming election, including U.S Representative, State Legislator, County Commissioner, County Sheriff, and County Prosecuting Attorney. There are numerous ways to ensure your voice is heard: request an absentee ballot, early vote or hit the polls on election day to cast your vote. Early voting is now open in most areas until May 17th. Early voters can visit their local county elections office for dates, times, and areas to submit their vote before the big day. On Election Day, May 21st, the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We highly recommend checking out voteidaho.gov. You’ll see endless resources on what to expect when voting in-person, how to early/absentee vote, and see who’s running. Every Tuesday, tune in for the ‘Fun Fact Tuesday’ video clip to learn more about Idaho’s elections. The Idaho Secretary of State, Phil McGrane, says it perfectly, “..every voice matters, every vote counts. Let’s shape the future of Idaho together.” Happy voting, folks! Tori Thomas Community and Government Affairs Manager, Boise Metro Chamber Dear Readers,
The legislature adjourned on April 10th, 2024, and we extend our appreciation to both the House and the Senate for their diligent efforts. Throughout this session, Idaho Launch remained a central focus for the Chamber, and we are delighted to witness its successful culmination. This program aims to keep our workforce strong, and families united by keeping Idaho kids in Idaho. A huge thank you to the Governor, the Workforce Development Council, and the Legislature for their commitment to this initiative. Another key agenda item for the Chamber was the passage of the School Facilities bill. This legislation not only ensures the maintenance of school infrastructure but also secures safe learning environments for Idaho students. Furthermore, it contributes to our ongoing effort to lower income taxes, a continued priority for the Chamber. Liquor Reform remains a priority for the chamber, encouraging economic development and opportunities for our hospitality and tourism industries. Senate Bill 1421 offers clarity to our businesses and allows local representatives the ability to judge what is best for their communities and values. We’re proud to see this legislation pass into law and commend Senator Guthrie, along with multiple others, for their work and commitment to this issue. As another session ends, we acknowledge that numerous challenges persist across various industries, and we remain resolute in our advocacy for Idaho businesses. We are grateful for the unwavering dedication of our members to their communities and look forward to continue serving you! Stay well, Tori Thomas  Boise Metro Chamber President and CEO, Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, and I attended The Idaho Business Policy Summit presented by the Idaho Chamber Alliance. It was a great opportunity to connect with chamber staff, Chamber members, and other stakeholders. We heard from Idaho Legislators and other state leaders including Governor Brad Little and Lt. Governor Scott Bedke. Dear Readers, As we enter the sixth week of the legislative session, the landscape remains dynamic with leadership transitions, budgetary considerations, and the conclusion of non-privileged committee bill introductions. Despite the evolving circumstances, we appreciate the work our legislature does and know there is a collective determination to navigate challenges and focus on the well-being of our state and its economic prosperity. Education Issues House Bill 521 addresses the Governor’s budget request to fund school facility maintenance through three avenues; dedicating $125 million in ongoing sales tax revenue for bonding, increasing the sales tax revenue directed to the fund to 3.25% and reducing income taxes from 5.8% to 5.695%. Healthcare Issues In our last update we included information on the Medicaid Expansion Repeal legislation. With over 400 opposing testimonies, the bill has been held in committee on an 8-5 vote. We do believe that some aspects of this bill will make an appearance again and we will continue to update.
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TORI THOMAS
Community and Government Affairs Manager Archives
May 2025
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