Rating: –1

Bill Summary:
H0171 expands the authority of county- or city-based Intermodal Commerce Authorities (ICAs) by granting them enhanced powers to develop land, issue revenue bonds, and operate facilities supporting economic and industrial development. It modifies Section 70-2201 and Section 70-2206, Idaho Code, to clarify that ICAs may acquire land, build warehouses, utility systems, manufacturing facilities, and other infrastructure deemed “reasonably incident to” a modern land-based port. The bill creates a new section (70-2214) allowing ICA bond resolutions to be published once, after which members of the public have only 30 days to legally challenge the bond issuance before it becomes conclusively binding. It also declares that ICA property is tax-exempt, even when leased or mortgaged for development purposes, unless sold to a private entity. The bill includes an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:
H0171 earns a negative rating because it significantly expands quasi-governmental economic development authorities, granting them broad powers to acquire land, avoid taxation, and issue publicly unchallengeable revenue bonds with minimal public input. The Idaho Republican Party Platform emphasizes limited government, protection of private property rights, and opposition to crony capitalism. By allowing ICAs to operate as tax-exempt development engines with the ability to pledge or mortgage property and funnel public support to private ventures, the bill risks creating unaccountable entities that distort free markets and bypass traditional checks on local government growth. The shortened 30-day legal challenge window further undermines transparency and public recourse. Despite economic development goals, the bill undermines platform principles of fiscal restraint, property tax fairness, and government accountability.