Thank you to everyone who joined us for our February Business After Hours trade show hosted by the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse. We appreciated the strong turnout and the chance for members to connect, learn about local businesses and build new relationships.

The Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse is a community facility designed to support athletes, youth programs and adaptive recreation. The Fieldhouse offers training space, educational programs and resources that make outdoor and athletic opportunities more accessible. Its mission focuses on helping Idahoans of all abilities stay active, develop new skills and engage with the outdoors in meaningful ways.

There are many ways to support or get involved with the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse. Community members can volunteer, attend programs and events or contribute to initiatives that expand access for youth and adaptive athletes. Businesses can partner with the Fieldhouse through sponsorships, facility use or community collaborations that strengthen recreational opportunities in the region.
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Thank you again to the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse and Tradeshow sponsor Delta Air Lines.

If you've ever wondered what your state government is actually focused on,  and whether the people in charge understand what life looks like outside the Capitol building,  Lt. Governor Scott Bedke's recent remarks at the Boise Metro Chamber's Elected Officials Outlook might reassure you.

Standing before a room of local business owners, employers, and community leaders, Bedke set aside the usual political talking points and gave a candid assessment of where Idaho stands today, the challenges coming in the next few months, and why every Idahoan,  not just business owners,  has a stake in what happens next.

Let's Talk About the Budget,  Honestly
Idaho is facing a projected budget shortfall. Bedke didn't sugarcoat it, calling it "arguably a self-inflicted problem." But he also pushed back on the idea that a budget gap is a reason to panic.
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"We have a shared problem, not a shared weakness. It's an invitation to governance."

His point? When everyone agrees on what the problem is, that's actually the moment when things get solved. He reminded the audience that Idaho has tackled tough challenges before,  rewriting its tax code, investing heavily in school buildings, and pulling off a landmark water agreement that many thought was impossible. A budget shortfall, he suggested, is just another hard thing that Idaho is capable of handling.

What matters most, he said, is not abandoning the fundamentals that made Idaho great in the first place: strong education, sound infrastructure, sensible regulation, and careful stewardship of natural resources like water.

A Program That's Changing Young Idahoans' Lives
One of the most exciting things Bedke talked about was a program called Idaho Launch,  and if you haven't heard of it, it's worth knowing about.

For years, Idaho offered financial support to students headed to traditional four-year colleges. But if you wanted to become a plumber, electrician, welder, HVAC technician, or mechanic? You were mostly on your own. Launch changes that by providing grants to students pursuing careers in the trades and technical fields.

The response has been remarkable. Organizers expected around 7,000 applicants in the first year. More than 13,000 signed up.

"There should always be an Idaho job for an Idaho kid."

Bedke visited the Chobani plant in Twin Falls,  now the largest yogurt facility in the world, right here in Idaho, to see one example of Launch in action. Through a partnership between the program and the College of Southern Idaho, students from communities like Twin Falls, Jerome, and Burley are graduating from technical programs in automation, HVAC, and electronics completely debt-free. They walk out the door with a starting wage of $29 an hour and a job waiting for them at one of the world's most innovative food companies.

"These were kids whose families couldn't afford to send them to school, and honestly, the kids didn't want to go to a traditional college," Bedke said. "Now they have a clear path to a rewarding career." That's the kind of story that shows what the right investment at the right time can do for real families.

Water: Why This Year Is Different
If you live in Idaho, you know that water is never far from the conversation,  especially for farmers, ranchers, and the communities that depend on agriculture. This year, Bedke says, deserves extra attention. Idaho had a warm, dry, and open winter across much of the state. That means lower snowpack in the mountains, which means less water flowing into rivers and reservoirs as spring arrives. Less natural flow means earlier reliance on stored water,  and it also means a higher risk of wildfires this summer.

Bedke was careful not to be alarmist. "We still have weeks of potential snow building ahead of us, and Idaho has managed difficult water years before," he said. But he was equally clear: water supply concerns are real this year, and the people whose livelihoods depend on water deserve to know their leaders are paying close attention.
"You can't appropriate your way out of a depleted water table. You have to manage the resources before the crisis,  not after."

He pointed to Idaho's 2024 water settlement agreement,  a hard-won deal between competing water users across the state,  as proof that Idahoans can come together and solve tough problems. That agreement is two years in and tracking exactly where it should be. The goal now is to protect the funding that makes it work, even as the state navigates a tighter budget.

Why People Are Moving Here,  and What We Need to Do About It
Idaho grew faster than almost any other state in the last census cycle, and that growth hasn't slowed down. The Treasure Valley, in particular, has become a serious economic destination,  attracting manufacturers, tech companies, healthcare providers, and financial services firms.
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Bedke shared the story of a family-owned manufacturing company that packed up from Portland and relocated to Idaho. The owner told him that back in Oregon, his employees constantly complained about traffic, housing costs, taxes, and red tape. Now? They talk about hunting, hiking, fishing, and coaching their kids' soccer teams. "He told me the productivity improvement alone was worth the move," Bedke said.

That's not a coincidence,  it's the result of deliberate choices Idaho has made to keep government out of the way, keep taxes reasonable, and protect the quality of life that makes this state special. But Bedke was clear that those things don't maintain themselves.

"Our job is to make sure growth makes Idaho better,  not just bigger."

That means continuing to invest in roads, bridges, and broadband. It means keeping regulations sensible and not piling on new rules just because other states are doing it. And it means making sure the schools, water systems, and public services are ready for the people who are choosing to call Idaho home.

What You Can Do
Bedke closed with something that doesn't always come from elected officials: a genuine ask for the public to stay involved in how their state is governed. "The people in this room see things that they are not seeing on the third floor of the Capitol," he told the audience. He asked people to go beyond just voting,  to reach out to their legislators, share what's working and what isn't, and speak up when a new rule or policy would cause more harm than good.

He acknowledged that elected officials aren't always easy to reach, and that it can sometimes feel like no one is listening. But he urged people not to let that be a reason to disengage.
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"It's going to require stewardship. The things that make Idaho desirable have to be actively maintained, protected, and cultivated."

Idaho's success didn't happen by accident, and it won't continue without effort. The budget challenge is real. The water situation this year deserves attention. The workforce needs that Idaho Launch is addressing are urgent. And the growth that Idaho is experiencing is an opportunity,  but only if we manage it wisely.

The good news, as Bedke sees it? Idaho is not in a crisis. The state is in a strong position, with a track record of solving hard problems and a community of people, in business, in agriculture, in the trades, and in every neighborhood,  who genuinely care about keeping it that way.

"I'm proud of what this state has built," he said. "And I'm clear-eyed about what we still need to do."
So are the rest of us. Let's stay engaged.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Meta, and our co-sponsors, Amalgamated Sugar, Intermountain Gas Company, and Idaho Complete Health, for making this event possible.

Lt. Governor Scott Bedke delivered these remarks at the Boise Metro Chamber's Elected Officials Outlook. This blog post was prepared from a transcript of the event.

State legislators joined the Boise Metro Chamber’s Annual Legislative Forum to share insights on policy priorities, infrastructure investments and affordability ahead of the 2026 Idaho legislative session.
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Panelists discussed water, broadband, transportation, housing and energy as key areas shaping Idaho’s economic future and quality of life.

Water policy and long-term infrastructure
Water remains one of Idaho’s most pressing policy issues as demand continues to grow across agricultural, residential and industrial users. Legislators emphasized the need for conservation, recharge and retention projects, along with legislative action to address long-standing allocation challenges.

Panelists noted that “water is the one resource every living organism depends on, and protecting it requires long-term planning and investment.”

Lawmakers highlighted recent appropriations for water infrastructure planning and signaled continued policy discussions during the upcoming session.

Broadband expansion and digital access
Broadband infrastructure was framed as essential to Idaho’s economy, health care and workforce, particularly in rural communities. Legislators discussed state and federal funding programs, evolving technology options and the role of satellite and wireless connectivity.

Speakers shared that “internet access today is as critical as highways and utilities for modern communities.”

Concerns were raised about affordability and sustainability as technology evolves and infrastructure requires ongoing upgrades.

Transportation investments and economic growth
Transportation infrastructure remains a priority as Idaho’s population growth continues to outpace roadway capacity. Panelists highlighted major projects underway across the state and the role of transportation in business attraction, safety and quality of life.

The forum underscored that “efficient transportation networks expand housing options, support economic development and improve daily life for residents.”

Panelists also noted that delaying infrastructure projects increases long-term costs and can lead to higher local tax burdens.

Housing, land use and affordability
Affordable housing emerged as a central concern, with legislators discussing zoning reform, public-private partnerships and potential adjustments to property tax policy.

Panelists emphasized that “there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and communities need flexibility to address local housing needs.”

Infrastructure investments were also linked to affordability, with improved transportation expanding access to more housing options across the region.

Energy demand and resiliency
Energy infrastructure and resiliency were highlighted as growing concerns, with electricity demand expected to rise significantly over the next decade. Legislators discussed generation, transmission and workforce development, along with the importance of supporting research and innovation.

Panelists shared that “additional generation and transmission capacity will be critical to avoid future reliability challenges.”

Looking ahead
Throughout the discussion, legislators emphasized long-term planning, sustainable funding and technology adoption as critical to Idaho’s continued growth.

A recurring theme was that “the infrastructure decisions made today will determine affordability, competitiveness and quality of life for future generations.”
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