NICHOLS’ VOTING RECORD

Tammy Nichols has spent her five-year legislative career voting the way the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) told her to vote rather than what was best for her constituents.  The IFF “scores” each bill as they are introduced on a scale of -10 to 10.  The lower the score, the more adamantly the IFF insists that their followers vote against it. 

Let’s look at a few of her votes and see how they have harmed Idaho families.

EDUCATION

Traditional Republicans understand that a robust public education is an investment in the future of Idaho.  Within the District 10 boundaries, we have multiple public school districts including West Ada, Middleton, Vallivue, Caldwell.  We also have many families that send their kids to public charter schools such as Vision, Sage International, Heritage, and others. Tammy consistently disregarded her constitutional duty “to establish and maintain a general, uniform, and thorough system of public, free common schools.”

  • Senate Bill 1038 would have established an Educational Savings Account (ESA) program to provide $5,950 for each student who is homeschooled or attends non-public schools. Families would have to be approved to receive the scholarship, but once awarded there would be no oversight or accountability for how the funds are used.

  • Tammy voted against HB208 which was a supplemental $1,500,000 appropriation bill for the Public School Support Program’s Teacher Division. The bill provided professional development funds for dyslexia training, screening measures, and other dyslexia requirements. The IFF rated HB208 as (-1) which tells legislators to vote against the bill.

    Tammy voted against SB1202 which was the appropriation bill for the Office of the State Board of Education. Included in this bill was $1,000,000 for arts in rural public schools; $20,000,000 for K-12 school security, and $30,000,000 for the Empowering Parents Grant Program. The IFF rated SB1202 as (-4) which tells legislators to vote against the bill.

    Tammy voted against SB1204 which was the appropriation bill for Public Schools Educational Support Program’s Division of Administrators. This division provides state support for superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, and assistant principals in Idaho’s school districts and public charter schools. The IFF rated SB1204 as (-1) which tells legislators to vote against the bill.

    Tammy voted against SB1206, the appropriations bills for the Public Schools Educational Support Program’s Operations Division. This bill funds the operation of Idaho’s school districts and charter schools for grades K-12. It includes student transportation, salaries & benefits for classified staff, and technology. The IFF rated SB1206 as (-2) which tells legislators to vote against the bill.

    Tammy voted against SB1207. This was the appropriations bill for Children’s Programs which are designed to provide direct educational or material benefit to children. The bill included investments for advanced opportunities, the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, as well as safe and drug free schools. The bill also used federal COVID funds for supporting homeless children and special education support. The IFF rated SB1207 as (-3) which tells legislators to vote against the bill.

    Tammy voted against SB1209. This was the appropriations bill for the Central Services Division. This Division includes programs and funds that are spent at the state level by the Department of Education for the benefit of all school districts and charter schools. Funds are used to contract services and for program oversight and evaluation. The bill provided additional funding for professional development programs related to reading, math, and science. The IFF rated SB1209 as (-1) which tells legislators to vote against the bill.

  • SB1206 was the $1,123,677,600 appropriations bill for funding operations of Idaho’s school districts and charter schools for grades K-12. Tammy voted against this bill which the IFF rated negatively (see above).

    SB1202 included $30,000,000 for the Empowering Parents Grant Program. The program provides eligible families with grant funds for use toward eligible education services and devices to help students recover from learning loss. Tammy voted against this bill which the IFF rated negatively (see above). Across Idaho, this program helped 49,424 students.

  • Tammy voted against SB1160 which was the appropriations bill for community colleges in Idaho. SB1160 allocated $20,816,700 to the College of Western Idaho (CWI). CWI has over 20,000 students enrolled. Many high school students in District 10 utilize CWI for dual credit classes or for earning their associate degrees. CWI is an asset for our children and for our employers. The IFF rated SB1160 as (-3) which tells legislators to vote against the bill.

    Tammy also voted against HB311 which allowed community colleges to use state appropriations for any upper division courses and bachelor’s degree programs they may offer. Tammy was one of only three legislators to vote against this bill.

  • SB1176 appropriated $678,550,500 for Idaho’s colleges & universities. Idaho’s universities allow our children the opportunity to pursue higher education within the state so that our kids learn the skills necessary to find good jobs within the state. The IFF rated SB1176 as (-2), thereby telling legislators to vote against the bill. Tammy and other Freedom Caucus members voted against the bill and against our colleges and universities.

  • Career technical education helps prepare our kids and adults for high-skill, in-demand careers. HB267 & its trailer bill, HB364, expanded the capacity of Career Technical Education (CTE) to Idaho’s middle and high schoolers (grades 7-12) and particularly focused on rural and remote communities. The first component of HB267 is the Idaho Career Ready Students which creates a capital fund for Idaho Public high schools established in the State Department of Education and administered by the Idaho Career Ready Students Program Council. The IFF rated HB276 as (-3) and HB364 as (0).

  • HB024 and its trailer bill, SB1167, expanded the existing Idaho Launch program to high school graduates starting with the 2024 class. Eligible graduates can receive a grant up to $8,000 for tuition and fees at either a community college or workforce training provider. The program gives preference to students pursuing in-demand careers based on job market data. The IFF strongly opposed the Launch Program and rated HB024 at (-6) and SB1167 at (0). Tammy and other Freedom Caucus members voted against funding workforce development for our kids.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is a major economic force in Idaho.  Tammy’s voting record on ag-related bills shows that she actively opposes the needs of farmers and ranchers. As Vice Chair of Senate Ag, she’s trusted by her peers to be a leader on one of the legislature’s most important committees. Her voting record shows:

  • In 2023, she voted against agriculture research and the cooperative extension service in the Treasure Valley (HB336). HB 336 allocated $37.2 million dollars to the University of Idaho for agriculture research and the cooperative extension services for the July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 fiscal year. The University of Idaho operates research & extension centers across the state. Idaho farms and dairies benefit tremendously from the research results generated by the Agriculture Research & Cooperative Extension Services. How did the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) tell Tammy to vote on the bill? They told her to vote against the bill by rating it as (-1) which dings a legislator’s IFF score if they vote in favor of the bill.

  • In the 2023 legislative session, she also voted against controlling noxious weeds in Idaho (HB094). Idaho has a statute (Chapter 24 of Title 22) that deals with noxious weeds. Noxious weeds are bad for agriculture because they reduce crop yields and can contaminate crop seeds. Noxious weeds can contaminate forage for animals and some weeds are toxic to animals. Some noxious weeds also produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby plants or kill them altogether. HB094 amended the existing statute (I.C. §22-2405) to allow the county to satisfy the code’s notice requirement by sending the notice via certified mail to the address shown on the county’s assessment roll. After 8 days pass from the mailing of that certified notice, the statute’s notice requirement is deemed satisfied. This allows the county to move forward with addressing the noxious weed issue when the landowner is not known or readily available. This addresses a problem where property is owned by someone living out of state and provides a mechanism for giving the property owner notice of the problem. The IFF told Tammy to vote against the bill by rating the bill as (-1). Tammy and the rest of the Freedom Caucus Members voted against the bill.

  • Idaho Code defines “open range” as “all unenclosed lands outside of cities, villages, and herd districts, upon which cattle, by custom, license, lease, or permit, are grazed or permitted to roam. This means that any land in the state that is not designated as a herd district and is not fenced, is considered “open range” and livestock can legally be on it. Herd districts required landowners within that district to fence their cattle in. However, a question arises – whether livestock from open range property roaming onto her district property should be liable for coming onto the herd district owner’s property if the fence is not maintained. Case law has developed different interpretations of the herd district statute. HB349a was designed to clean up the statutory language to clarify who should maintain the fence and who is liable if the fence is not maintained. H349a places the responsibility on the property owner within the herd district to maintain the fence and explicitly states that the owner of livestock (other than swine) may not be held civilly liable for depredation if the livestock strays from open range into a herd district, unless the herd district boundaries are enclosed by fences and cattle guards or gates. The IFF rated HB349a as (-1). Tammy voted against the bill along with other Freedom Caucus Members.

  • In 2023, Tammy voted against funding the Department of Water Resources (HB 361, SB1181). HB 361 transferred $150,000,000 to the Water Management Fund for large water projects. Large water projects are those projects that address water sustainability, enhance and modernize surface water delivery systems, rehabilitate or improve aging water infrastructure, or address flood management. Another $92,000,000 went to the Water Pollution Control Fund to be used for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure grants. HB361 also included $23,000,000 from the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund and put it into the Water Management Fund. In total, HB 361 put $272,000,000 into water projects.

    SB1181 is the appropriations bill for the Idaho Department of Water Resources. The bill appropriated $81,500,000 which allows the Department of Water Resources to administer water rights, perform regulatory functions, develop tools & resources to monitor Idaho’s water supply, and it also funds the Idaho Water Resource Board which implements the state’s water plan, finances water projects and sustainable water management projects.

    How did the IFF tell senators to vote on HB 361 and HB 1181? The IFF rated HB361 as (-2) and SB1181 as (-3). Tammy and other Freedom Caucus members voted against HB 361 and SB1181.

  • HB352 is the appropriations bill for the Soil & Water Conservation Commission. The bill appropriated $5,642,200 for the commission. The bill also included an additional $5,000,000 one-time funding for the Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA). This program (WQPA) funds on-farm water quality water quality improvement projects and small water infrastructure projects for irrigation delivery entities. The Soil & Water Conservation Commission also runs the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) which works with other states and federal agencies to provide financial incentives to landowners to reduce groundwater consumption in the Snake River Plain Aquifer by taking marginal farm ground out of production. The Commission also works to improve the water quality in surface and groundwater that has been impacted by agricultural runoff.

    The IFF rated HB352 as (-2) which tells senators to vote against the bill. Tammy followed suit and voted against funding soil and water conservation.

  • Voted against the Agriculture budget (S1372)

  • Voted against the water budget (S1411)

  • Voted against legislation to bolster enforcement of out of state watercrafts that bring quagga into Idaho (S1322)

  • Voted against H 592 which helps farmers and ranchers who lose livestock to grizzly bears and wolves.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

As I grew up in small-town Idaho, I felt safe in my home and on the streets of my town.  I want all Idahoans to feel the same way.  We need to support our police, military, first responders and judiciary.  Tammy’s votes indicate that she does not understand the importance of the “Rule of Law” as she often votes against providing the tools they need.

  • In the 2023 legislative session, Tammy voted against funding our law enforcement and keeping our communities safe. House Bill 359 provides $102,963,100 and 658.76 full-time positions to the Idaho State Police, funding for capitol protective services, investigations, patrol, forensic services, and POST Academy training for officers. Included in the bill is also funding for dealing with the fentanyl problem in Idaho. Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful synthetic opioid that is fatal in very small doses. Between 2020-2022, there was a 33% increase in overdose deaths in Idaho and approximately 49% of those deaths involved fentanyl. This bill also helped fund trips to the southern border for the Idaho State Police to learn how to stop fentanyl.The IFF rated this bill as (-4), prompting Tammy and other Freedom Caucus members to vote against it.

  • SB1173 protects the right of a person to declare or show that they possess a firearm to reasonably defend and protect themselves or another against the unlawful use or attempted use of physical force including deadly physical force. The IFF rated SB1173 as (-1).

  • SB1150 was the appropriations bill for the Division of Veterans Affairs. It appropriated $130,349,300 for veterans’ services. The bill provided funds 1) to replace the Boise Veterans Home that was built in 1965, 2) to enable the agency to offer health benefits to temporary employees, 3) for bariatric beds and a Site Dumper, and 4) meet the increased federal match requirements. Idaho has 122,000 veterans living within the state. The IFF rated SB1150 as (-1).

  • SB1190 appropriated $19,000,000 for the Military Division which is made up of the Idaho Army National Guard, the Idaho Air National Guard, the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, Public Safety Communications, the Idaho Military History Museum, the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy, and STARBASE. The Division’s mission is to maintain combat and domestic emergency response readiness. The IFF rated SB1190 as (-1).

  • Idaho’s judicial system is exemplary. The Idaho Supreme Court, the Idaho Court of Appeals, District Courts, Magistrate Divisions, and Treatment Courts all fall under the umbrella of the State’s judicial branch.. SB1168 appropriated $89,374,300 to fund personnel, technology, jury selection systems, and the guardian ad litem program and other programs. The IFF rated SB1168 as (-2).

  • The Idaho Department of Corrections oversees prisons, probation & parole, and management services. The Department of Corrections oversees a staff of approximately 2,000. HB351 appropriated $354,157,700 for the Idaho Department of Corrections. This funds the Department as well as Idaho’s nine state-owned prisons and community reentry centers. The IFF rated HB351 as (-3).

  • In Idaho, we take care of our kids - including the ones who need a course correction and a second chance. HB282 was the appropriations bill for the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections. The bill appropriates $58,296,100 for the department. The bill funds the department’s personnel. It also provided funding for an electronic monitoring program, the Community Operations Program Services (COPS) Program, as well as one-time supplemental funding for eight youth assessment centers. The IFF rated HB282 as (-3).

  • SB1163 required that devices activated in Idaho would have parental controls set to “on” as the default. Parents would still have the right to allow their children to access whatever they choose, but would have to make those changes after purchase. This is a software adjustment; no extra hardware would need to be added by the manufacturer or service providers. The IFF rated SB1163 at (-5) and the bill failed in the Senate on a 17-18 vote.

INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Opposed funding Idaho broadband, which would reduce the gap in opportunities for rural Idaho families (S1129, S1159) [2023]

  • Opposed funding local bridges and highways (H354) [2023]

  • Opposed funding state roads and bridges (S1189, H354) [2023]

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

  • Opposed protecting our aging Idahoans and funding the Commission on Aging (S1134) [2023]

  • Opposed funding Idaho’s Hispanic Affairs Commission (S1178) [2023]

  • Opposed the Commission on Blind and Visually Impaired (S1138) [2023]

TAXES

  • Opposed an income tax reduction for Idaho parents (H288) [2023]

HARMFUL MATERIAL, CHILDREN

  • Opposed the prevention of minors from the access of harmful materials via cell phone (S1163) [2023]

2024 Session

  • Bill # Subject Vote Cast

    H399 Maternal Mortality Board Nay

    H468 Rangeland Improvement Act Nay

    H741 Idaho LAUNCH Grant Program Nay

    H633 Public Assistance, Pregnancy Nay

    S1234 Six Months, Contraception Nay

    S1390 LAUNCH Grant, In-Demand Careers Def. Nay

    S1402 Approp. Veteran Services. Trailer Nay

    S1411 Approp. Water Resources. Trailer Nay

    H731 Approp. Dept. of Ag. Trailer Nay

    S1244 Electioneering at Polling Sites Nay

    H703 Ag Research Extension Program Nay

    H680 Commission on Aging. Approp. Trailer. Nay

    S1402 Div. of Veteran Services. Approp. Trailer. Nay

    H693 Approp. Division of CTE. Trailer. Nay

    S1372 Approp. Dept. of Ag. Trailer. Nay

    S1373 Approp. Soil & Water. Trailer Nay

    H592 Grizzly & Wolf Depredation Funds Nay