Blog / Recent News
3/25/2019 – Despite public and professional opposition, House Bill 277 advances
HB277 passed the House Thursday 45-25 after many hours of contentious debate and overwhelming public opposition in committee. Here's my floor debate if you're interested - it lays out the main arguments against the bill. HB277 (which is opposed by the Idaho Hospital...
3/25/2019 – Senate Bill 1159 – The “Revenge on Voters Act”
SB1159 - the "Revenge on Voters Act" is a response to the successful 2018 citizen ballot initiative passing Medicaid Expansion. This bill, which just passed the Senate 18-17, would nearly double the number of signatures and districts that must be certified for a...
District 18 Spring Wine Event
Date: May 6, 2019 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Place: Locavore (3110 S Bown Way - Boise, Idaho 83706) Facebook Event Page Join Idaho District 18 Democrats for the ever-popular Wine Event on Monday, May 6, 2019 at Locavore (3110 S. Bown Way at Bown Crossing). This event is...
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3/22/2019 – Video: Rep. Rubel’s testimony against House Bill 277
Video: Check out my latest testimony against House Bill 277. A dangerous bill that places restrictions and sideboards on the voter-approved Medicaid Expansion.
3/20/2019 – OP-ED by Rep. Ilana Rubel – “Our leaders should represent voters, not muzzle them”
OP-ED by Rep. Ilana Rubel | "Our leaders should represent voters, not muzzle them" Senate Bill 1159, aptly nicknamed the “Revenge on Voters Act,” was introduced by GOP legislators in the wake of the successful Proposition 2 implementing Medicaid Expansion. It would...
3/17/2019 – Video: Press conference on Senate Bill 1159 – the “Revenge on Voters Act”
Video: Minority Leadership press conference on SB1159 - the Revenge on Voters Act
3/1/2019 – Climate hearing announced / “Homeowner Solar Rights Bill” (House Bill 158) vote is Monday!
Following up on the well-received public hearing I hosted in 2017, Rep. Rob Mason and I are holding the first ever official committee hearing on climate change at 1:30 on March 6 in the House Energy, Environment & Technology Committee. If you want to send a...
3/1/2019 – First Responders Legislation (Senate Bill 1028) heading to the Governor’s desk!
Rep. Mat Erpelding's bill to provide workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress (SB1028) has passed both the House and the Senate and is headed to the Governor's desk. Exciting news for our first responders!
3/1/2019 – Child marriage laws in Idaho (House Bill 98 / House Bill 170)
Two things happened yesterday that I feel undermine children's safety. Idaho leads the nation in child marriage - it is legal here for a 40 year old to marry a 14 year old. Rep. Melissa Wintrow brought HB98 yesterday to raise the marriage age to 16 to conform to...
3/1/2019 – Progress blocked on early childhood education bill
The House Education Committee refused to even print an early childhood education bill, killing our hopes for progress on this front this year. Meanwhile, HB120, a bill that would require parents to affirmatively opt in to allow their kids to receive sex education,...
3/1/2019 – Rep. Rubel’s bill for mandatory sentencing reform advances (House Bill 99)
HB99, my bill which would reform mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenses by giving judges more discretion in sentencing, passed from committee and will be voted on by the full House on Monday. This one has strong bipartisan support - we'll see what happens on...
3/1/2019 – Update of Medicaid expansion
I have been told that on Monday a bill will be introduced that would add work requirements to Medicaid, cause Medicaid Expansion to terminate upon any federal reimbursement rate adjustment and add other "sideboards" to Proposition 2 as passed by the voters. I...
2/20/2019 – Update on Rep. Rubel’s “Homeowner Solar Rights Bill” (House Bill 158)
My "Homeowner Solar Rights" bill, HB158, was heard yesterday in the House Business Committee. This bill would prevent HOA's from unreasonably prohibiting homeowners from installing rooftop solar panels - Idaho is currently the only state in the West that does not have...
2/20/2019 – First responders compensation bill advances to House (Senate Bill 1028)
Rep. Mat Erpelding's bill to provide workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress (SB1028) passed the Senate 31-4 and is on its way to the House for a hearing tomorrow. I'm a co-sponsor, and am greatly hoping we can provide this critical support to our...