WEBVTT 00:00:07.479 --> 00:00:10.599 Welcome to Unlimited Parenting. I'm Allison, 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:13.919 and with me today is, of course, my partner in 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:17.600 crime, Melissa Vian. I got a last name today. 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:19.820 You got a last name. Frequently, I don't give 00:00:19.820 --> 00:00:22.140 you a last name because I don't want people stalking 00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:24.899 you on Facebook. Well, I'm not on there anymore, 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:29.079 so good luck. Today is a very special episode, 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:31.160 and I know I say that about all the episodes, 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:34.020 but I really like this one. Not that I don't 00:00:34.020 --> 00:00:37.280 like the other ones. Oh, God. We are doing a 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:41.859 deep dive into the 2025 Idaho with some federal 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:45.659 sprinkled in legislative session. It was a whirlwind. 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:48.640 It was 12 weeks, give or take a week. We've already 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:51.280 determined that I'm not good at math. It was 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:53.380 a long time. It was very long. It was too long. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:57.960 And I think, quite honestly, that the congressmen 00:00:57.960 --> 00:01:00.359 would agree with us that it was too long. We 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:03.429 all agree. Yeah, I bet. i was gonna say that 00:01:03.429 --> 00:01:05.349 might be something we agree on that might be 00:01:05.349 --> 00:01:07.510 it that might be the one that might be it full 00:01:07.510 --> 00:01:11.750 of bills that directly affect education healthcare 00:01:11.750 --> 00:01:16.030 disability services family choice and this is 00:01:16.030 --> 00:01:17.709 probably a good time to mention that there are 00:01:17.709 --> 00:01:19.409 a lot of bills that were covered this session 00:01:19.409 --> 00:01:22.170 that we're not going to get to there was like 00:01:22.170 --> 00:01:26.120 400 500 in the house And then there were Senate 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:28.379 bills. There's some on housing. There's some 00:01:28.379 --> 00:01:30.379 on grocery credits. We're not going to cover 00:01:30.379 --> 00:01:32.500 those today, though. But what I hear you saying 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:36.060 is we are going to cover what maybe affected 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:39.739 the families which we serve. Listen, if it impacted 00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:42.680 me, I'm going to talk about it. Sounds good. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:46.939 I just have a request. This is not TRL live. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:50.840 It kind of is. Wait. Can you put in I'm a bill. 00:01:51.019 --> 00:01:53.239 I'm a bill. Because it just every time you said 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:56.480 that bill. I'm just a bill. Yes. And I'm something. 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:59.439 And I just don't think that the youth of the 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:01.920 now know that like we do. You don't think so? 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:03.819 I don't know. You're a youth and you sort of 00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:06.680 know it. I am not a youth. Anyway. But thank 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:09.659 you for saying that. When we were prepping for 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:12.740 this, I just kept envisioning that little dancing 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:16.400 bill. The little dancing guy? I will tell you, 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:21.219 though, whether you're an educator or a parent 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:24.639 or just a layman of any sort, you're going to 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:26.400 get something out of this podcast today. Cool. 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:30.039 OK, well, if you don't care, I'll go first. I 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:33.219 don't. So I'm going to talk about health care. 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:35.879 If it impacted health care, I'm going to try 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:38.930 to be comprehensive and dial into it all. If 00:02:38.930 --> 00:02:41.409 I missed anything, please feel free to let me 00:02:41.409 --> 00:02:43.330 know in the comments. I'm always looking to grow 00:02:43.330 --> 00:02:47.370 of that growth mindset. So much of what happened 00:02:47.370 --> 00:02:51.370 in this session was related to Medicaid. I feel 00:02:51.370 --> 00:02:53.650 like everything was potentially. Do you just 00:02:53.650 --> 00:02:55.870 want me to come back? Yeah, this will take about 00:02:55.870 --> 00:02:59.530 45 minutes. You go back. I'll be back. So even 00:02:59.530 --> 00:03:04.699 in week one, right, like everything. So federally, 00:03:04.780 --> 00:03:07.199 CMS was accepting comment at the beginning of 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:11.139 the legislative season for the amendment that 00:03:11.139 --> 00:03:13.759 would remove the ability for parents, spouses 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:16.900 to be paid caregivers. Because remember, I mean, 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:18.560 I know you remember. I do. For the audience, 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:21.979 that was something that was provided to Idahoans 00:03:21.979 --> 00:03:25.759 during the pandemic, was the flexibility to be 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:28.840 your child, to be your spouse's personal caregiver 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:31.780 and be paid for it. Are there other states that 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:36.689 do this? Yes. But we, as Idahoans, are looking 00:03:36.689 --> 00:03:39.969 to not continue that. Correct. Essentially what 00:03:39.969 --> 00:03:43.569 I'm saying is it's in flux. Please hold for more 00:03:43.569 --> 00:03:46.270 information. So we saw that at the beginning 00:03:46.270 --> 00:03:49.569 of the season. Yeah. But that was not the end. 00:03:50.169 --> 00:03:52.750 Ladies and gentlemen, hold on tight. Okay. So 00:03:52.750 --> 00:03:55.530 there were a lot of Medicaid bills. Like I said, 00:03:55.610 --> 00:03:58.810 you might not hear yours. You might not hear 00:03:58.810 --> 00:04:02.189 the one that you were hoping for. But if not. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:04.860 pop off in the comments. First, we saw House 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:07.699 Bill 58, which was a proposed law that would 00:04:07.699 --> 00:04:11.759 end Idaho's Medicaid expansion program. Ultimately, 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:15.560 we sifted through a lot of bills to get to the 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:20.100 one that we liked. So Medicaid expansion, just 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:24.699 as a level setter, is what allowed more adults. 00:04:25.689 --> 00:04:28.750 especially those with low income but without 00:04:28.750 --> 00:04:32.050 disabilities or children, to get health care 00:04:32.050 --> 00:04:38.449 coverage through Medicaid. And this means that 00:04:38.449 --> 00:04:41.230 adults who qualified for Medicaid only qualified 00:04:41.230 --> 00:04:44.689 because of Medicaid expansion. So based on income 00:04:44.689 --> 00:04:47.790 alone, they wouldn't be eligible otherwise. They 00:04:47.790 --> 00:04:51.790 would be losing their health care coverage. And 00:04:51.790 --> 00:04:55.269 I want to remind everyone who maybe is like me 00:04:55.269 --> 00:04:59.629 and potentially blacked out in 2018 that Medicaid 00:04:59.629 --> 00:05:02.829 expansion was voted for. I don't I honest to 00:05:02.829 --> 00:05:05.290 God, I don't remember doing this. I don't remember 00:05:05.290 --> 00:05:08.129 voting for this. I remember the push. It was 00:05:08.129 --> 00:05:10.629 a real grassroots effort. I'm older than you. 00:05:10.889 --> 00:05:13.610 So, yeah, you were not that much older than me. 00:05:13.629 --> 00:05:16.290 2018, I had my last kid. But see, that's where 00:05:16.290 --> 00:05:18.490 I think. OK, I think that's where you were in 00:05:18.490 --> 00:05:21.269 the thick of it. Right. You were you had. What, 00:05:21.290 --> 00:05:25.629 three kids under three at that point? So blacking 00:05:25.629 --> 00:05:29.009 out in 2018 is probably just how I survived. 00:05:29.649 --> 00:05:35.449 Yeah, it was. Well, in case. But yes, I do remember 00:05:35.449 --> 00:05:38.410 it. It was a huge grassroots effort. It was an 00:05:38.410 --> 00:05:42.250 initiative that was put on the ballots by Idaho 00:05:42.250 --> 00:05:45.389 people, I believe. Yes. Right? Okay. Yes. I do 00:05:45.389 --> 00:05:47.009 remember. I can't remember if it was Prop 1 or 00:05:47.009 --> 00:05:50.779 Prop 2, but I blacked out. So if in case you 00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:53.980 were like me, Medicaid expansion was voted for 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:59.040 by Idahoans in 2018 and it started in 2020. It 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:03.420 allowed adults ages 19 to 64 without disabilities, 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:07.220 without dependents to get Medicaid based only 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:13.800 on income. Any adult making up to about $20 ,783 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:18.009 per year. or $43 ,000 for a family of four. I'd 00:06:18.009 --> 00:06:22.449 say Medicaid expansion doesn't directly affect 00:06:22.449 --> 00:06:24.449 children with disabilities because they're not 00:06:24.449 --> 00:06:29.050 really in that population outright. It does affect 00:06:29.050 --> 00:06:32.970 them because the people who support them, the 00:06:32.970 --> 00:06:35.810 direct support to the children with disabilities 00:06:35.810 --> 00:06:38.370 is potentially being affected because the people 00:06:38.370 --> 00:06:40.990 who are on Medicaid expansion are often those 00:06:40.990 --> 00:06:45.759 community support workers. Our direct care workforce, 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:50.699 right? Exactly. Okay. So as you can imagine, 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:55.000 House Bill 58 did not pass. So we saw House Bill 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:58.639 138, which imposed new conditions for Medicaid 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:03.100 expansion. It doesn't outright ban it. It's saying 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:08.120 that if just one of these 11 specific conditions 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:12.660 aren't met, Medicaid expansion would be repealed. 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:17.560 So a lot of what you're going to hear is work 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:20.120 or volunteer requirements, but I'll read all 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:22.360 of these 11 to you. Please, if you're listening 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:24.240 to this for the first time and this is all new 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:28.740 information for you, House Bill 138 did not pass. 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:32.560 Number one, keep federal funding at 90%. So if 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:35.660 the federal government lowered its reimbursement 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:39.720 or its share, Idaho is going to end the program. 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:43.360 And the reason that that is key, the reason that 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.480 that is crucial is because there's a lot of talk 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.300 at the federal level about making cuts to Medicaid 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:52.980 or amending Medicaid funding. Idaho has a 90 00:07:52.980 --> 00:07:55.759 -10 match. Federally, they pay 90. Idaho pays 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:58.019 10. If that were to change, Medicaid expansion 00:07:58.019 --> 00:08:02.199 is repealed. Number two, require participants 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:05.680 to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week. 00:08:06.520 --> 00:08:09.360 unless they are children, seniors, pregnant, 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.319 caring for a child with a disability in recovery. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:16.240 Number three, offer private insurance instead 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:18.660 of Medicaid for people over the poverty line, 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:21.860 but let them choose. Number four, limit enrollment 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:25.120 to 50 ,000 people or the same number as seniors 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:27.519 and people with disabilities currently in Medicaid, 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:31.480 whichever is fewer. Number five, keep errors 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:35.940 under 5%. Number six, stop. auto -renewing Medicaid 00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:39.159 without checking updated info. Number seven, 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:45.639 limit coverage to 36 months per lifetime for 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:48.679 this group. Number eight, check eligibility every 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:52.019 six months, not just every year, twice a year. 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:56.360 Number nine, allow hospitals to do quick approvals, 00:08:56.419 --> 00:08:59.480 aka presumptive eligibility for kids and pregnant 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:03.480 women, not adults. Number 10, Ban using Medicaid 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:06.360 funds for certain procedures or services that 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:09.340 the state does not support, such as abortion 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:12.480 services or gender affirming care. Number 11. 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:16.039 Finally, number 11. You've made it. Ban using 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:19.379 funds for gender reassignment surgery for adults 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:22.960 or treatment. Did not pass. Another bill that 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:25.120 did not pass. And you may be thinking to yourself, 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:28.740 why are you telling me all of these if they did 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:32.340 not pass? And the reason. We are putting you 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:36.519 through this. Again? Again. You're putting me 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:38.899 through this again? Again. Okay. It's because 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:42.360 it really helps you understand why what did pass 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:45.860 did pass. How did we get here? What did we turn 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:48.899 down to get to where we are today? House Bill 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:52.799 328 did not pass either. Another Medicaid reform 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:55.799 bill dropped earlier proposals that tied changes 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:58.899 to Medicaid expansion repeal, offering a slightly 00:09:58.899 --> 00:10:03.750 gentler alternative. Again, did not pass. And 00:10:03.750 --> 00:10:08.490 drumroll, please. Dun, dun, dun. Or maybe more 00:10:08.490 --> 00:10:11.830 like dun, dun, dun. Dun, dun, dun. Yeah. Depending 00:10:11.830 --> 00:10:17.330 on which way you. Yeah. House Bill 345, also 00:10:17.330 --> 00:10:20.710 known as a Medicaid Reform and Cost Containment 00:10:20.710 --> 00:10:24.289 Act. This bill, now signed into law, this one 00:10:24.289 --> 00:10:27.289 was the winner, shifts the state toward managed 00:10:27.289 --> 00:10:33.779 care. So MCOs, managed care organizations, handing 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:35.899 more authority to private insurance companies. 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:40.759 This bill is a major change to how Medicaid decisions 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:45.120 are made in Idaho. It says that Idaho lawmakers, 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:49.500 a .k .a. the legislator, must give approval before 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:52.960 the state can make changes to its Medicaid program. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:11:00.570 So previously in the before times, DHW. W could 00:11:00.570 --> 00:11:03.950 make changes to some programs. Obviously, there 00:11:03.950 --> 00:11:05.610 are some programs that might need CMS approval. 00:11:05.809 --> 00:11:08.250 Obviously, there are some other hoops, but they 00:11:08.250 --> 00:11:10.629 did not meet. The legislature always approves 00:11:10.629 --> 00:11:12.570 their budgets. They always have. They always 00:11:12.570 --> 00:11:15.570 will. But in the four time, they did not need 00:11:15.570 --> 00:11:18.769 the legislature because they are not through 00:11:18.769 --> 00:11:20.730 no fault of their own. They are not expected 00:11:20.730 --> 00:11:25.789 to be as educated as DHW on the Department of 00:11:25.789 --> 00:11:27.539 Health and Welfare. Excuse me. The Department 00:11:27.539 --> 00:11:29.879 of Health and Welfare is DHW. They're not as 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:33.139 educated as them on some of the services and 00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:34.919 supports and the why. And they don't have the 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:42.000 data and on and on and on. But now. Now the legislature 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.980 gets to. OK, yeah, I think you understand what 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:47.279 I'm trying to put down here. Previously, the 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:48.860 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare could 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:51.940 make updates like adding services or changing 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:55.279 how Medicaid works more independently. This bill 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:58.240 takes away that flexibility. Some of it. And 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:01.240 puts lawmakers in control of most of it. The 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:04.840 big changes. I pull Idaho Parents Unlimited. 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:09.379 That's us. Testified. Also, our executive director 00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:13.620 was the testify or the testee. I don't. I don't. 00:12:13.929 --> 00:12:16.789 Angela Lindig. And she asked for assurances that 00:12:16.789 --> 00:12:19.610 the disability community would have a seat at 00:12:19.610 --> 00:12:24.289 the table. And bless Melissa Wintrow, Senator 00:12:24.289 --> 00:12:28.250 Melissa Wintrow, who said repeatedly that she 00:12:28.250 --> 00:12:30.669 would involve the disability community. Not that 00:12:30.669 --> 00:12:33.029 any of the other senators or representatives 00:12:33.029 --> 00:12:35.330 expressed that outright, but I did get the impression 00:12:35.330 --> 00:12:40.320 that they all agreed. I would agree. You guys 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:43.320 showed up, too. Oh, my word. There were so many 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:47.259 people. And I think that we saw how testimony 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:50.059 has changed since COVID because we had people 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:53.080 all across the state being able to provide testimony 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:56.779 remotely. But we were packing those hearing rooms 00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:59.299 and we had people providing in -person testimony, 00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:03.659 written testimony, emailed testimony. You're 00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:06.120 right. People showed up. People showed up and 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.200 they showed out. When you mess with someone's 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:11.399 health care. yeah people tend to show up and 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:14.899 show out another thing that this may impact is 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:18.299 some cost sharing which is a little bit more 00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:20.620 into the weeds because you can never be charged 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:23.379 more than five percent of your income so it might 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:26.200 be on a sliding scale it's typically i think 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:30.580 three dollars and 64 cents for some things Please 00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:36.480 stay tuned for more information. We don't know 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:39.019 how this all is shaken down still, kind of. Exactly. 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:43.200 We were there. We testified. We'll continue to 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:45.460 monitor how these changes could affect access, 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:48.519 cost sharing, and eligibility for our children 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:52.120 with disabilities. Federally, like I mentioned 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:55.980 as a little teaser about 13 minutes ago, a proposed 00:13:55.980 --> 00:14:01.519 $800 billion in cuts. I'm laughing. Largely expected 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:04.740 to impact Medicaid has raised some alarms while 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:07.460 no specific programs have been made. I want to 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:11.460 make that clear. Advocates, including Idaho Parents 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:14.659 Unlimited, including Idaho Voices for Children, 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:17.500 including Idaho Anti -Trafficking, including 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:21.059 the Council on Developmental Disabilities, including, 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:23.399 I mean, who have I missed here? Everybody was 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:25.960 there. It was our Centers for Independent Living. 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:30.190 I mean. Everybody, everybody, everybody was there 00:14:30.190 --> 00:14:35.110 on March 20th at the Capitol steps at an event 00:14:35.110 --> 00:14:37.629 called Protect Medicaid. And I think that some 00:14:37.629 --> 00:14:39.730 people may have thought that that had something 00:14:39.730 --> 00:14:43.929 to do with House Bill 345 just because they were 00:14:43.929 --> 00:14:46.929 so close together. But I want everyone, you know, 00:14:46.970 --> 00:14:49.330 I'm setting this rumor. I'm laying it down. I'm 00:14:49.330 --> 00:14:52.029 putting it to bed once and for all. That was 00:14:52.029 --> 00:14:55.559 that was in regards to the federal. Yeah. $880 00:14:55.559 --> 00:15:00.179 billion in cuts. One final note before I shut 00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:02.259 my mouth and I let Melissa discuss some of the 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:06.100 educational pieces. Our director of health and 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:11.139 welfare, as if we needed more change, has been 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:14.139 nominated to a federal role. Good for him. Everybody 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:16.940 loves a promotion. Yeah. Good on you, Alex Adams. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:22.690 We do not, as of this recording. Today is May 00:15:22.690 --> 00:15:26.210 the 5th. You should be hearing this on or near 00:15:26.210 --> 00:15:30.549 Lord Willin and the Crick Don't Rise the 15th 00:15:30.549 --> 00:15:34.769 of May. As of right now, I do not know who his 00:15:34.769 --> 00:15:38.659 replacement would be, but I do know. But they 00:15:38.659 --> 00:15:41.340 could influence how Idaho services operate moving 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:44.340 forward because Alex Adams made quite a change. 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:47.399 Yeah, he did. The department became the one department 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:49.840 and everything went through him. So there were 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:52.740 a lot of changes with Alex Adams. So before I 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:55.240 close, I just want to say there's there's no 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:58.340 certainty. There's not. I don't have a lot of 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:01.340 stability to provide you right now. Hold on tight. 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:03.919 Keep your eyes and ears open. And now I'm going 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:05.799 to pass it off to Melissa for some education. 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:10.830 OK. So thank you for that health care. You are 00:16:10.830 --> 00:16:12.850 so welcome. So now we're going to switch to schools. 00:16:12.889 --> 00:16:15.970 While this session was very, very health care 00:16:15.970 --> 00:16:20.169 driven, it also was very heavily educationally 00:16:20.169 --> 00:16:22.309 driven. We saw school choice. We saw student 00:16:22.309 --> 00:16:25.090 safety. We saw a lot of funding bills coming 00:16:25.090 --> 00:16:28.330 coming through the legislature. OK, so we're 00:16:28.330 --> 00:16:30.340 going to kind of break it down. So House Bill 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:35.659 93, that was our tax choice, our Idaho parental 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:40.139 tax credit. That passed both chambers and it 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:43.840 was signed into law that gave or gives up to 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:47.840 $5 ,000 per child, $7 ,500 for kids with disabilities. 00:16:48.570 --> 00:16:50.750 So this is going to families who are not enrolled 00:16:50.750 --> 00:16:53.450 in public or charter schools to be that offset 00:16:53.450 --> 00:16:56.809 for private tuition, tutoring or those educational 00:16:56.809 --> 00:16:59.669 costs. That flew through. It flew through probably 00:16:59.669 --> 00:17:03.429 because it was really heavily, you know, a push 00:17:03.429 --> 00:17:05.349 from our current administration from the federal 00:17:05.349 --> 00:17:09.410 level, too. Yeah. So next. Can I just add one 00:17:09.410 --> 00:17:14.599 more thing? Thank you. It's your podcast. Is 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:18.559 this the one where we even saw people come in 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:22.400 from other states to provide testimony? Arizona, 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:25.019 right? Arizona. So someone from Arizona came 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:29.319 to Idaho and provided testimony on how this credit, 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:33.000 how it worked in their state and how they loved 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:37.400 it and how it's done just great things. Yes. 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:40.000 So. So this isn't something Idaho came up with 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.019 in a dream or it wasn't like a shower thought. 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:45.480 This is something that other states with or without 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:48.880 success, I might add, have done in their. Yes. 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:53.240 States. OK. Thank you. I believe Idaho is kind 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:56.400 of middle of the road when we're in terms of 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:59.440 these vouchers, these schools. OK. OK. I don't 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:02.160 know. And I don't like and I don't know if we're 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:03.859 the 30th state. I don't know where we're at, 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:07.019 but I know there are. Quite a few other states 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:09.579 were going this route. This isn't this isn't 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:14.720 our idea. No, this wasn't our idea. OK, so we'll 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.299 move on from that. So then we saw Senate Bill 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:22.259 1096 and that introduced some weighted per student 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:25.220 funding. So what that means is that schools get 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:27.519 more support for families or for students who 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.779 have greater need. Right. My student require 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:33.799 my my 15 year old student costs more to educate 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:36.200 than his 11 year old brother. That's just how 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:39.220 it is. English language learners, kids with disabilities, 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:42.400 alternate educational setting students, those 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:44.380 cost a little bit more. And this is something 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:47.359 we can definitely get behind. Hands down. 100%. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:50.819 100%. Schools should get more money for these 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:55.220 specific pupils. 100%. We know they require more 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:58.839 instruction, individualized approaches sometimes 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:02.079 that it's more than a typical student requires. 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:04.640 Right. Absolutely. We are 100 % can get behind 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:08.799 that. So then we move on to student safety. So 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:12.259 we have a few bills that kind of touch and address 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:15.799 that. So House Bill 5 set up behavioral threat 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:18.980 assessment and management. So are they, is it 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:22.359 B -T -A -M? Are we calling it B -T -A -M? I haven't 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:24.920 heard it referenced out loud yet. So it could 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:28.259 be anything. B to the T to the A to the M. I 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:30.470 don't know. I don't know if it's. It could be 00:19:30.470 --> 00:19:32.890 anything. So those are behavioral threat assessment 00:19:32.890 --> 00:19:38.490 and management teams. Those teams, their purpose 00:19:38.490 --> 00:19:41.190 is to identify potential threats. As parents 00:19:41.190 --> 00:19:44.329 of children with disabilities, we should very 00:19:44.329 --> 00:19:47.069 much pay close attention to how these teams are 00:19:47.069 --> 00:19:49.470 operating, especially in the educational setting, 00:19:49.630 --> 00:19:52.869 so that we ensure fairness for all of our students, 00:19:53.049 --> 00:19:57.190 legal protections at IDEA. gives to our students 00:19:57.190 --> 00:19:59.470 every student has the right to a free and appropriate 00:19:59.470 --> 00:20:02.549 education right so we don't want to in have some 00:20:02.549 --> 00:20:04.549 unintended consequences that would potentially 00:20:04.549 --> 00:20:07.410 remove some students from that educational setting 00:20:07.410 --> 00:20:11.309 this bill did not pass but it what it did is 00:20:11.309 --> 00:20:14.869 very much set the stage for house bill 236 so 00:20:14.869 --> 00:20:17.789 speaking of house bill 236 let's just talk about 00:20:17.789 --> 00:20:21.779 that so house bill 236 um Allows schools to deny 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:25.000 enrollment or attendance to students with disruptive 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:28.559 behavior, with past expulsions, with criminal 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:33.420 history. What I want to say is in this testimony, 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:37.500 we absolutely saw parent voice matter. We saw 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:40.900 parent voice be able to change the structure 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:44.980 and the flow of how this bill was written so 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:47.400 that it did not have unintended consequences. 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:50.759 There were some sections of this. bill that needed 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:53.859 to be moved accordingly so that we didn't essentially 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:57.839 we voice parent voice moved some amendments to 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:00.039 this bill so that it had some protective language 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:02.559 in it and this bill passed and was signed by 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.539 the governor on the 31st of march and i think 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:08.019 that that was what was so powerful is that a 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:14.220 lot of times and i know everyone's testimony 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:17.980 is so personal and it's so individualized but 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:21.299 the effect that it has when someone comes with 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:24.259 hey this is a problem but here is here's a potential 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:28.539 solution the way that those um committee members 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:32.099 their ears just open and their eyes zoomed in 00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:34.960 they're like oh okay so you you think that if 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:37.400 we just made you like this bill or i mean you 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:39.539 you don't like automatically oppose it you're 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:41.680 saying okay i hear you but you got to make this 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:44.079 one small change and then it will protect students 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.799 with disabilities better and once they heard 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:49.420 that they were like Let's do it. Let's do it. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:52.359 Yeah, I'm not against that. So we we came to 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:54.980 the table in a bipartisan way, which was so great 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:58.180 to see. And that is exactly it was collaboration 00:21:58.180 --> 00:22:02.500 at its finest. Exactly. preemptively removed 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:04.799 unintended consequences so that we didn't have 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:07.079 to come back next session and open this bill 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:09.980 up again and say, or, you know, do another bill. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:12.420 Exactly. We don't want to see this again, right? 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:15.579 We got it before it even was signed into law 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:17.700 so that we didn't have to even mess with those 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:20.200 unintended consequences. 100%. I guess at the 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:22.740 end of the day, parents looking at the language 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:25.759 and structure of how a bill is written, it made 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:29.150 all the difference in this case. Good job, parents, 00:22:29.289 --> 00:22:32.670 who testified and were really the driving forces 00:22:32.670 --> 00:22:35.490 behind that. We're proud of you. Shout out to 00:22:35.490 --> 00:22:37.589 you, Laura Walls, Brittany Shipley, and a couple 00:22:37.589 --> 00:22:40.049 of other people whose names are finally slipping 00:22:40.049 --> 00:22:42.410 my brain after I had them memorized for this. 00:22:42.650 --> 00:22:45.490 I'm so sorry. You made it. You did the work. 00:22:45.710 --> 00:22:48.910 All right. So let's go on to House Bill 75. That 00:22:48.910 --> 00:22:51.710 really aimed at creating a new funding system 00:22:51.710 --> 00:22:55.839 to help public districts that needed... desperate 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:58.720 repairs, remodeling to their school facilities, 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:01.079 but only if they could prove that they really, 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:04.119 really needed that help. This was kind of a state 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:06.319 level emergency fund for schools that have those 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:09.240 serious facility problems. However, did not pass. 00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:13.339 And I think we all amongst this. I think we've 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:15.880 all been to a school where we're like, oh, my 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:18.099 word, they could use some support. They could 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:22.609 use. Asbestos in the walls, mold, lead paint. 00:23:22.890 --> 00:23:27.369 And this is kind of one of those. This was one 00:23:27.369 --> 00:23:29.809 of those bills that if it would pass, it's that 00:23:29.809 --> 00:23:32.849 emergency level when the bonds and levies don't 00:23:32.849 --> 00:23:35.029 work, when we can't get the community support 00:23:35.029 --> 00:23:38.490 there. But we are in a dire situation. Moving 00:23:38.490 --> 00:23:43.130 on. Senate Bill 1032, which states that by December 00:23:43.130 --> 00:23:47.390 31st of 2025, every Idaho public school must. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:50.660 Create a clear policy about how students can 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:52.940 use phones and devices during the school day 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:56.980 on school property. So this Senate bill required 00:23:56.980 --> 00:24:01.240 that schools or districts limit device use during 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:04.119 class time and school hours. Nobody's against 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:06.759 that. Nope. And focus on reducing distractions 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:09.460 in the learning environment. So think, you know, 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:12.819 texting during class, checking your Insta, any 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:15.619 of those. Snapping. You're Snapchatting, right? 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:19.119 That's not a... Bad thing. No, nobody's nobody's 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:22.319 against that. And I can tell you, my son, my 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:24.839 senior son's school district implemented this 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:27.980 policy this year. I don't know if it was that 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:33.519 or if he just finally clicked, but his effort 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:36.839 and his grades have made a complete turnaround. 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:40.019 And I don't know if it's just that, but it couldn't 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:42.480 have hurt anything. Yeah, it obviously lended 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:45.960 a helping hand. Right. Yes. So schools were not 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:48.539 required to ban cell phones completely. They 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.740 could if they chose to. Some districts did take 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:55.660 that upon themselves. Schools, you know, we wouldn't 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:57.319 be the Parent Training and Information Center 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:59.339 if we didn't say schools are allowed to include 00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:03.960 exceptions into their policies. Students with 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:07.180 IEPs or potentially 504s, there are some students 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:09.640 who need access to devices. If students have 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:11.880 type 1 diabetes and have a Dexcom, they need 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:14.220 their device for that reading purposes. And we 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:17.779 saw that, right? We did. We have several students 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:21.720 who use phones as a communication device. And 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:25.539 those needed to be allowed into, you know, written 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:29.180 into IEPs, written into 504s, so that they kind 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:32.579 of were. allowed to not skirt the policy but 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:35.380 they were allowed approved devices within this 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:37.500 so that they could access their free and appropriate 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:43.619 public education exactly exactly um so Not everything 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:47.859 passed. We did see House Bill 291, which we really, 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:50.279 really wanted to pass. Is that the high needs? 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:52.440 That is our high needs. Oh, my God. This just 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:55.160 hurts me even. It literally brings me physical 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:57.420 pain to talk about this. I know. Because these 00:25:57.420 --> 00:26:00.359 are our students. And I will also say, after 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:02.420 having made that comment, that this was very 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:05.559 highly debated. Like, the legislature really 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:09.259 put the time in for this. They did. And we came 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:14.140 so close. It failed by just one vote. It was 00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:17.180 heartbreaking. Yeah. However, I guess it tells 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:20.500 us that we are so close and we just need more 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:22.380 education because I really think that that's 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:24.519 what it came down to. I would agree. So many 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:26.500 of the legislators are saying, well, we're giving 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:28.559 you money. We've done this. We've done this. 00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:34.099 And it's it's just explaining and educating exactly 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:38.430 who this fund would be. beneficial for? Because 00:26:38.430 --> 00:26:40.650 that's what it was, right? If you had a student 00:26:40.650 --> 00:26:43.529 who... It really is truly for those smaller, 00:26:43.569 --> 00:26:46.130 more rural districts that have potentially a 00:26:46.130 --> 00:26:50.609 student that is expensive. I mean, for example, 00:26:50.769 --> 00:26:54.549 if you had a student that was maybe blind and 00:26:54.549 --> 00:26:57.950 needed all of their materials to be accessible 00:26:57.950 --> 00:27:01.789 in Braille, that costs the district a lot of 00:27:01.789 --> 00:27:04.789 money. Or if you had a student that requires 00:27:04.789 --> 00:27:07.730 one to one support or maybe skilled nursing, 00:27:07.890 --> 00:27:10.470 if they're a very medically fragile student. 00:27:10.910 --> 00:27:13.309 So for that student to be able to access their 00:27:13.309 --> 00:27:15.849 free and appropriate education, it costs a lot 00:27:15.849 --> 00:27:18.490 to be able to send them to school. And you can 00:27:18.490 --> 00:27:21.069 see where in a rural district that would potentially 00:27:21.069 --> 00:27:24.230 bankrupt them. And so that's what this cost, 00:27:24.450 --> 00:27:28.619 this high cost fund was to. to proportionately 00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:31.819 help out some districts that may have students 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:36.299 that are higher, higher cost than others. High 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:39.140 cost, high need. And like you said, though, I 00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:41.539 think it really was education because there was 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:46.000 one point where I believe it was Debbie Critchfield, 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:48.759 the superintendent of public instruction for 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:54.099 Idaho, who was trying to. Just really paint the 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:55.920 picture of what a student like this might look 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:57.680 like and what they might mean, kind of like you 00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:01.079 just did. And the representative, I can't remember 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:04.720 who it is now. I do know it was a gentleman who 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:08.200 said that a student can't really cost $100 ,000 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:11.039 a year. And, you know, Debbie Critchfield was 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:15.900 like. Absolutely a student. And he was flabbergasted. 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:18.720 His flabbers were gassed. His jaw was on the 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:20.960 floor. So I think you're right. I think it's 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:23.240 just kind of letting people know that these children, 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:25.099 they deserve an education. And yes, they are 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:28.079 more expensive. And it's not every student. Correct. 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:30.799 These are very one off scenarios. And that's 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:33.079 why this was I believe it was a three million 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:36.140 dollar ask to just create a fund. And obviously 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:38.619 districts were going to have to show that need. 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:41.900 It wasn't going to just be everybody got. Twenty 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:45.380 dollars as you know, it was going to have to 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:48.700 be applied for and received based on the on the 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:50.920 need of the district. And it's not a child's 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:53.960 fault for being born in Priest River versus being 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:57.240 born in Boise. You know what I mean? It's our 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:00.319 job to support every child in Idaho, regardless 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:03.299 of where. Yeah. So I guess this one gives me 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:05.480 a little bit of hope that next year with a little 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:08.480 bit more education, hopefully this is one that 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:11.559 we're. That's such a good point. That's such 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:14.779 a good point. I'm trying to be positive. I think 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:16.799 it's warranted, too, because we were so close. 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:21.480 Okay. I have one more thing. Federally, you talked 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:26.509 about a federal sprinkle. A little rain. Federally, 00:29:26.509 --> 00:29:30.190 that brings us to a federal executive order that 00:29:30.190 --> 00:29:32.630 maybe you might have seen in the headlines, the 00:29:32.630 --> 00:29:36.349 ending to the radical indoctrination of K -12 00:29:36.349 --> 00:29:39.109 schools. So that aims to prevent schools from 00:29:39.109 --> 00:29:42.190 teaching children to view themselves as victims 00:29:42.190 --> 00:29:45.009 or oppressors or to question gender identity 00:29:45.009 --> 00:29:47.630 without involving their parents. And so while 00:29:47.630 --> 00:29:50.369 some interpretations vary, it really underscores 00:29:50.369 --> 00:29:53.960 how education is, again, at the front. Of so 00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:57.759 many. And people have so many thoughts. So many 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:01.799 thoughts about education. So many opinions. And 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:03.599 I think that that's what the federal level is 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:06.039 trying to do. They're trying to say, hey, everyone 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:08.940 has a lot of feelings about education. Let's 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:11.200 send it back to the states. Let's let the states 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:13.779 be in control. And I think that a lot of people 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:16.700 also don't conceptualize the fact that it was 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:19.240 always kind of at the states. The federal was 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:23.019 just kind of saying, make sure. That Title I 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:27.299 is followed. Make sure that 504 is implemented. 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:29.539 Make sure that the Individuals with Disabilities 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:31.619 Education Act is being followed. They were more 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:34.259 kind of an overseer, like a compliance officer. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:37.900 For sure. And a lot of the conversations that 00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:40.220 we've had this legislative season, I think that 00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:43.960 that is what has surprised people the most. When 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:46.480 you talk about, you know, sending it back to 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:48.680 the states, people are kind of scared and nervous. 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:52.059 But it sort of has already happened that way. 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:55.019 It's already kind of. And it's been that way 00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:57.380 for a very long time. And I can attest to that. 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:59.339 And I know that a lot of people are going to 00:30:59.339 --> 00:31:02.559 relate to this story. But I spent some time in 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:05.119 Washington, D .C., which you might know is across 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:08.470 the country. I spent three years there. And then 00:31:08.470 --> 00:31:10.470 I moved back here. And when I moved back here, 00:31:10.609 --> 00:31:14.430 I, as a junior, had to be in some freshman classes 00:31:14.430 --> 00:31:17.529 because they're required in Idaho and they were 00:31:17.529 --> 00:31:21.029 not required in Maryland. Because Idaho set. 00:31:21.210 --> 00:31:24.630 Because it's Idaho standards. So, I mean, it's 00:31:24.630 --> 00:31:27.029 something that's always kind of been that way. 00:31:27.089 --> 00:31:30.710 But if you're not. moving states or in that life. 00:31:30.769 --> 00:31:33.490 You're not thinking about all those things. So 00:31:33.490 --> 00:31:36.769 stick a fork in it. We're done. That's me. Education. 00:31:37.089 --> 00:31:39.589 It's just education. No Becky. It's just education. 00:31:39.609 --> 00:31:43.049 No Becky. So we did health care. We did education. 00:31:43.430 --> 00:31:47.049 There's just a few. You wish. You wish. There's 00:31:47.049 --> 00:31:50.130 just a few more things I want to bring to everyone's 00:31:50.130 --> 00:31:55.710 attention. Another huge win is house build. 26, 00:31:55.930 --> 00:32:00.210 which updated Idaho's ABLE account program. So 00:32:00.210 --> 00:32:04.730 this allows us as a state to partner to cut costs. 00:32:04.950 --> 00:32:08.880 So before in the before times. You would have 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:11.880 to get like a Chase account or something like 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:14.519 that to get an ABLE account. Had to be like a 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:16.720 federal. You tell me more about that. You know 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:19.259 more. Yeah, it just Idaho didn't have any recognized 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:21.940 banking institutions. So you had to either you 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:24.500 had to kind of go outside of the state. Idaho 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:28.299 wasn't recognizing them. So, yeah, our account 00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:31.210 is our my son's ABLE account is through. chase 00:32:31.210 --> 00:32:34.109 it just makes it easier to access yeah it is 00:32:34.109 --> 00:32:36.210 easier to access now which is a huge one and 00:32:36.210 --> 00:32:38.690 i don't know and and maybe i need to find this 00:32:38.690 --> 00:32:41.369 out like are our credit unions now capable is 00:32:41.369 --> 00:32:43.829 this i think so okay i think so too i think so 00:32:43.829 --> 00:32:47.269 but i'm not i mean the the state independent 00:32:47.269 --> 00:32:50.569 living council is is yeah your link your dac 00:32:50.569 --> 00:32:53.890 your life yep those are our people sounds like 00:32:53.890 --> 00:32:57.549 a whole bunch of hashtags And also we celebrated 00:32:57.549 --> 00:33:00.809 annually, like we always do, Fred Riggers Disability 00:33:00.809 --> 00:33:05.170 Awareness Day on February 5th. It's just an incredible 00:33:05.170 --> 00:33:08.390 chance every year for families to speak directly 00:33:08.390 --> 00:33:12.130 with lawmakers, for families to talk to Link, 00:33:12.230 --> 00:33:16.529 to talk to Life, to talk to DAC, to talk to Disability 00:33:16.529 --> 00:33:21.089 Rights Idaho. All of us are there. I always love 00:33:21.089 --> 00:33:23.890 hearing Fred's daughter speak. Oh, my gosh. Yes. 00:33:23.990 --> 00:33:26.490 And every year she has a new story about Fred 00:33:26.490 --> 00:33:29.849 and how he just came to the Capitol and thought, 00:33:29.950 --> 00:33:33.349 I'm doing this. I am now a person with a disability 00:33:33.349 --> 00:33:36.730 and I have the time and the space and I'm going 00:33:36.730 --> 00:33:38.710 to talk to my legislators and I'm going to tell 00:33:38.710 --> 00:33:42.529 them what it's like. And the DD Council is always, 00:33:42.589 --> 00:33:47.490 they're right there. No. Yeah. It was good this 00:33:47.490 --> 00:33:51.089 year. It was. It was really good this year. So 00:33:51.089 --> 00:33:54.650 what do you take away from the 2025 season? What 00:33:54.650 --> 00:33:56.289 do you take away from the session? Let me tell 00:33:56.289 --> 00:33:58.730 you. Let me tell you. I'm going to make it sound 00:33:58.730 --> 00:34:01.769 like a question, but it's really just a way for 00:34:01.769 --> 00:34:03.589 me to just interject this statement right here. 00:34:03.690 --> 00:34:06.529 And then I want to know. What do you take away? 00:34:06.910 --> 00:34:12.630 Medicaid? Changing. Education? Evolving. Parent 00:34:12.630 --> 00:34:16.090 voice? Making a difference. Do not underestimate. 00:34:17.090 --> 00:34:20.440 Don't underestimate yourself. Yeah. Exactly. 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:22.960 Sometimes it feels really defeating when you 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:26.639 watch a hundred people say, please vote no on 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:29.440 this. And they vote yes on it. Sometime it's 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:34.900 defeating. I guess my takeaway is there are a 00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:39.019 lot more people out there. The Medicaid rally 00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:42.300 on the steps, the Fred Riggers day. Like there 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:46.010 are. People are coming out and exactly what you 00:34:46.010 --> 00:34:48.489 said, parent voice is making a difference. Testimony 00:34:48.489 --> 00:34:51.570 is making a difference. Voices are making a difference 00:34:51.570 --> 00:34:55.789 and seeing people show up. That's what I'm going 00:34:55.789 --> 00:34:58.929 to take away from this session is I think we 00:34:58.929 --> 00:35:02.710 had more people realizing the value of their 00:35:02.710 --> 00:35:06.329 voice. Never stop sharing your power of your 00:35:06.329 --> 00:35:16.360 personal story. Exactly. Thank you so much, everyone 00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:18.780 out there, for listening in. And know that if 00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:22.400 you are in Idaho or planning on moving to Idaho 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:25.519 and have questions on systems or services for 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:27.980 children with disabilities, please consider reaching 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:31.559 out to us on our website at iPullIdaho, that's 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:38.280 I -P -U -L -Idaho .org, or by calling us at 208 00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:43.380 -342 -5884. Be sure to tune in next time. Until 00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:46.980 then, This has been Unlimited Parenting. Thanks 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.519 for listening!