Week 9
Welcome to Week 9 of Motivation Monday! 
Ever wondered how a Bill becomes a Law? Understanding the process is key to effective advocacy and making your voice heard. Let’s break it down so you can follow the journey and get involved where it matters most!
Here’s a quick overview:
Introduction: A legislator sponsors a bill and introduces it to the House or Senate.
Committee Review: The bill is assigned to a committee for discussion, potential amendments, and a vote.
Floor Debate: If approved by the committee, the bill moves to the full House or Senate for debate and a vote.
Second Chamber: The process repeats in the other chamber (House or Senate).
Governor’s Decision: If both chambers pass the bill, it’s sent to the Governor for approval or veto.
Want to learn more? Check out these resources:
https://shorturl.at/CSXLj – IPUL’s Champion for Change – Power of a personal story Padlet
Your voice can influence every step of this process. Whether it’s sharing your story, submitting public comments, or reaching out to legislators, YOU can make a difference![Week 9] Legislative Update This Week’s Highlights:
Key Legislative Actions:STATE – Idaho House Bill No. 291: Idaho High Needs Student Fund
**The House Education Committee has sent House Bill No.291 to the House floor (11 yays, 3 nays)** This bill establishes a fund to assist with costs related to students with disabilities who require substantial supports. The funding will be allocated to districts and charter schools through an application process overseen by the State Department of Education.
STATE – Idaho House Bill No. 236: Denial of Attendance, Enrollment
**House Bill 236 was sent back for an amendment. This amendment is due in large part to testimony from Idahoans!** This bill expands reasons for denying school enrollment or attendance to include: habitual truancy, continues disruptive behavior, behavior deemed detrimental to the health and safety of other students, possession of a dangerous weapon, or previous expulsion or disenrollment due to safety concerns. Requires parents or guardians to disclose a student’s relevant criminal history when seeking enrollment.
STATE – Idaho House Bill No. 345: Medicaid Reform and Cost-Containment Act
This bill requires Idaho lawmakers to approve major Medicaid changes, including cost-sharing, eligibility rules, and managed care expansion. For children with disabilities, this could impact access to Medicaid services by introducing stricter eligibility reviews, potential cost-sharing for families, and changes in provider reimbursements. Additionally, it makes significant changes to IDAPA (Idaho code) relating to Medicaid Basic and Enhanced plans, including making them null and void after July 1st, 2025. This could also have major effects on the Medicaid Expansion population.
FEDERAL – Designation of English as the United States’ Official Language:
On March 1, 2025, an executive order declared English as the official language of the United States for the first time in the nation’s history. Changing the official language of the United States to English does not automatically override existing language access laws for individuals with disabilities, but it could lead to significant challenges in enforcing them.
Get Involved!You can use IPUL’s “Power of a Personal Story” template to craft testimony to share with legislators. Other testimony tips can be found in the padlet as well. You will find all our tips at this link https://shorturl.at/kSLOf
Looking Ahead:Updates on upcoming legislative actions will be shared as they become available. Stay tuned!
Stay Connected:Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates, and visit our website for more resources: ipulidaho.org