Archived Greg Chaney Updates and Newsletters
Sanctuary City Policy Issues Resurface (5/29/2020) - In 2017, Rep. Chaney and Rep. Sage Dixon (R-Ponderay) introduced legislation to prohibit sanctuary city policies in Idaho. A firestorm of criticism quickly erupted. Chaney pushed back on those who tried to blur the line between immigration and illegal immigration. There were extended negotiations with agricultural interests. One critique that seemed to gain momentum was that the legislation wasn’t necessary because there were no sanctuary cities …
Let’s Work Together to Reopen Idaho (5/8/2020) - By Greg Chaney Ronald Reagan once said: “We must have faith in the people of this country and faith in our principles.” Idahoans are certainty worthy of the faith of which Reagan spoke: tough, thoughtful, resilient, and patriotic, our admirable commitment to independence and self-sufficiency has given rise to an anxious enthusiasm to see all impediments removed that threaten our ability to stand on our …
Chaney Condemns Targeting Law Enforcement Families (4/24/2020) - In a Facebook Live broadcast, Rep. Chaney condemned what he considers to be insincere, opportunistic agitators and protesters who took their disapproval of COVID-19 restrictions to the extreme by protesting a Meridian Police Officer’s home. Chaney also condemned Lt. Governor McGeachin for acts and omission on her part that encourage continued unrest. Both the Idaho Press-Tribune and Idaho Statesman expressed their support for Chaney’s message.
Chaney on Property Tax (3/30/2020) - Rep. Chaney on the importance of reducing the amount of property tax collected and not just shifting it from one taxpayer to another
Holding Agencies Accountable (3/23/2020) - When unelected bureaucrats ignore the legislature and disregard statutes to do whatever they want irrespective of the law, the only mode of accountability left is through the budget setting process. For that reason, yesterday the House defeated the Idaho Tax Commission budget 21-48. As I told the House in debate, “this is a dangerous budget because it is a budget for an agency gone rogue” …Nov. 15, 2019 ICJC Meeting (11/15/2019) - Comments on internet safety and the November meeting of the Idaho Criminal Justice Commission.
Chaney Named Chairman of House Judiciary (5/9/2019) - Speaker of the House Scott Bedke announced Rep. Greg Chaney has been appointed Chairman of the House Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee. For more, check out the Idaho Press Tribune Article here.
Statehouse Update 3/29/2019 (3/29/2019) - Chaney’s “First in the Nation” Algorithm Bill is Signed by Governor On Friday, Governor Brad Little signed into law H118, making Idaho the first state in the nation to push back against secretive “black box” computerized sentencing and pretrial decision-making. Click here for more. Updating The Referendum Process Addressing the concerns of some Idahoans about Senate Bill 1159, we introduced House Bill 296 in the House Ways …Statehouse Update 3-22-2019 (3/22/2019) - Senate Unanimously Approves Chaney’s Algorithm Bill On Monday, the Senate approved H118 33-0 (with 2 absent). Special thanks to Sen. Patti Ann Lodge for carrying the bill on the Senate floor. The bill will receive one more vote in the House early next week (due to some minor, technical Senate amendments). The House already approved the bill 66-2 earlier this month. Saving Tax Dollars On …
Statehouse Update 3-17-2019 (3/17/2019) - Algorithm Bill Sails Through Senate Committee H118, Rep. Chaney’s “Minority Report” bill to mandate transparency in pretrial algorithms, passed the Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee on Monday. The bill is expected to receive a vote of the full Senate early next week. Supporting A Better Referendum Process The Idaho House Republican Caucus supports SB 1159 concepts to expand voter involvement in the initiative and …Statehouse Update 3-9-2019 (3/10/2019) - “Minority Report” Bill Advances H118, Rep. Chaney’s “Minority Report” bill to ensure transparency in computer-generated criminal justice decisions, passed the house 66-2 on Monday, March 4, 2019. For more on the bill, click here: https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2019/mar/05/algorithms-idaho-legislation/ An Idaho Medicaid Solution Caucus-members helped jump start the discussion on Medicaid expansion this morning to discuss House Bill 249 in a packed Lincoln Auditorium. Originally introduced on Wednesday, this legislation …
Expedited Eviction Bill Falls (Idaho Press-Tribune) (3/5/2019) - “Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, fiercely opposed the legislation because he viewed it as an affront to due process in the state.” On Monday, H138, the Expedited Eviction Bill failed to pass the House 34-36; click here for coverage by the Idaho Press Tribune. https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/expedited-evictions-bill-narrowly-fails-to-pass-house/article_4e05fb1c-945b-54c5-9656-b1a3dc2ce54f.html
Statehouse Update 3-1-19 (3/1/2019) - Idaho Council on Federal Lands New legislation would create a legislative council to help Idaho deal with federal lands issues. The Idaho Council on Federal Lands would be comprised of four members from the House and four from the Senate. “The Federal Government manages 63% of the land in our beautiful state, so the creation of this committee is well past due,” said co-sponsor Rep. …Statehouse Update 2-22-19 (2/22/2019) - Hearing Held on Chaney’s “Minority Report” Bill This week, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on H118–Chaney’s bill on bias and secrecy in computer-generated recommendations in criminal justice. Chaney has equated the use of these tools to the plot of the 2002 movie “Minority Report.” The committee approved the bill to move to the full house, where it will receive a vote after an amendment …
Computerized Discrimination In Criminal Justice (2/6/2019) - IDAHO MUST ELIMINATE COMPUTERIZED DISCRIMINATION IN ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY: REP. GREG CHANEY (R-Caldwell) The most sacred responsibility of any lawmaker is to ensure that we protect the people we serve. That means everybody, not just certain select groups. Unfortunately, when it comes to criminal justice in Idaho, existing practices in the state threaten the very concept of fairness guaranteed to all of its …
Friend of Agriculture (10/10/2018) - Last month, Rep. Chaney was once again recognized as a friend of agriculture by the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
Chaney in New Orleans (8/11/2018) - I had the opportunity this past week to travel to New Orleans to a meeting of state legislators from around the country. It’s great to be able to share about Idaho’s successes in the past year. On Wednesday morning I addressed a breakfast sponsored by the Americans United for Life and the Susan B. Anthony List. They invited me to come speak about H638, Idaho’s …
DIPG Awareness Day-May 17 (5/18/2018) - Yesterday was DIPG Awareness day in Idaho and 30 other states. During the last legislative session, I had the privilege of being introduced to an amazing family who told me about Beckham-a strong, courageous young man fighting this rare brain tumor. I got to hear Beckham’s story while helping pass a legislative resolution designating DIPG Awareness day in Idaho. Yesterday, I finally got to …
Law Changes Back in Favor of the Little Guy (4/2/2018) - Rep. Chaney was the House sponsor of H554, a bill that restored the laws of accountability and responsibility for automobile accidents to its traditional status. In 2014, the legislature adopted a new law that allowed insurance companies in certain circumstances to refuse to pay for the damage and injuries caused to an accident victim–even if the victim did nothing to cause the crash herself. In …