Legislative Record

Legislative Committees

• Transportation and Defense
• Revenue and Taxation
• Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Legislation Sponsored by Rep. Ruchti

Idaho Consumer Protection Act Enhancement: Main sponsor.

House Bill 517: Provides additional protection to the elderly and the disabled under the Idaho Consumer Protection Act. Passed and signed into law.

Personal Property Tax: Co-sponsor.

House Bill 599: Phase out the personal property tax for businesses over five years. The personal property tax applies to business machinery, tools, furnishings, equipment and some fixtures. Passed and signed into law.

Community Infrastructure Districts: Co-sponsor.

House Bill 680: Provide local governments with the tools they need to adequately deal with growth, including financing necessary community/public facilities and infrastructure. Helps ensure that "growth pays for growth" which is especially important in Idaho as one of the fastest growing states in the nation. Passed and signed into law.

Extension of Statute of Limitations for Reporting Child Sexual Abuse: Main sponsor.

House Bill No. 124:1 Extends, from one year to four years, the misdemeanor criminal statute of limitations for failure to report the abuse of a child. Main sponsor. Passed and signed into law.

Extension of Statute of Limitations for Filing Claim of Child Sexual Abuse: Main sponsor.

House Bill No. 125: Extends the statute of limitations in civil cases for filing claims in child sexual abuse cases. This bill made Idaho's statute of limitations consistent with its surrounding states. Main sponsor. Passed and signed into law.

National Guard Tuition: Co-sponsor.

House Bill 385: Extends to non-resident members of Idaho's National Guard the opportunity to attend the State's universities and colleges, at resident rates. Passed and signed into law.

Repeal Grocery Tax: Main sponsor.

RS17578C2: Repeals the sales tax applied to groceries purchased in the State to provide tax relief to every Idahoan. Idaho is one of only seven states which applies its full sales tax to food. This bill did not pass, but an increased grocery tax credit on the Idaho income tax form did pass, and James supported that legislation.

Daycare Safety: Co-sponsor.

Senate Bill 1376: Revise and extend the State's licensing requirements for child care providers/daycares. Basic requirements included health and safety inspections, fire inspections, restrictions on alcohol and tobacco use, criminal history checks and infant CPR and first aid training. Unfortunately this bill did not pass out of committee, even though Idaho was ranked last in the nation in daycare regulation.

Tax Loophole Closed: Floor sponsor.

House Bill 360: Closed a tax loophole which national retail stores were taking advantage of and thereby placing Idaho's small businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Successfully carried bill on House Floor. Passed and signed into law.

Idaho Transportation Department Audit.

House Concurrent Resolution 050 as amended: The State' s infrastructure needs are going to require increased revenue. Before the State asks its citizens to pay for these improvements, it is important that taxpayers know the Idaho Transportation Department is operating efficiently and effectively. That's why I signed on as a co-sponsor to the Idaho Transportation audit legislation.