Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 91 amends the Idaho Code regarding contracts between governmental entities and public employees. Specifically, the bill prohibits contracts that obligate government agencies to withhold any portion of an employee’s wages for the purpose of contributing to political committees or organizations engaged in political activities. It also makes such contracts void and unenforceable if they violate this prohibition.

The legislation clarifies that public employers cannot be compelled to act as intermediaries for political funding, and it safeguards employee paychecks from automatic political deductions unless explicitly authorized by law. This mirrors similar statutes in other states that aim to reduce the influence of politically affiliated public sector unions over taxpayer-funded payroll systems.

Reason for Rating:

The bill supports the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s core principles of limited government and political transparency. By removing the state’s role in collecting political contributions on behalf of unions or political organizations, H0091 helps shrink the administrative footprint of government and eliminates a form of compelled political speech. It ensures that taxpayer-funded systems are not used to advance political causes without individual consent. This aligns with the platform’s emphasis on individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and the separation of government functions from partisan activism.