Greetings IEHA members! I'm now responsible for providing legislative updates and I'll try to do that on a weekly basis. If there is legislation out there that involves environmental health and I have not addressed it, please let me know.
I encourage you all to visit the Legislative website where you can find a complete index of all bills currently being considered. Here's some of the latest that is being considered by the Idaho Legislature.
-Patrick Guzzle, Legislative Committee Chair
HB041 has passed - this allows for monetary penalties for violations associated with underground storage tanks.
HB050 is in committee - this provides that a governing body may set procedures for zoning changes, subdivisions, variances, special use permits, etc.
HB042 is in committee - this bill changes some definitions in the water quality act.
HB166 is in committee - this bill voids and nullifies ordinances and resolutions that declare specific agricultural activities to be nuisances.
HB210 is in committee - this bill declares that properly conducted agricultural activities cannot be termed nuisances.
HB129 is in committee - this bill changes licensing requirements for daycare facilities and sets fees for licensure.
HB075 is in committee - this bill replaces the Uniform Plumbing Code with the Idaho Plumbing Code.
Food Safety-the Department of Agriculture had rules approved relating to raw milk and herd share programs. The rules allow for raw milk and raw milk products to be sold in grocery stores provided that the supplier of the raw milk is registered with the Department of Agriculture. Raw milk and raw milk products must also be labeled appropriately.
Visit the Idaho Environmental Health Association's website for legislative updates posted frequently on the Blog-News page.