Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: HCR020 – Joint Session for Governor’s Message – Jan 2026
Bill Summary
House Concurrent Resolution No. 20 establishes a joint session of the Idaho House of Representatives and Senate scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026, at 1 p.m. in the House Chamber. The resolution responds to the Governor’s request to deliver a message to the legislature during the Second Regular Session of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature.
This is a purely procedural resolution that sets the date, time, and location for the Governor’s address. It contains no substantive policy provisions, appropriations, or amendments to existing law. The resolution simply formalizes the agreement between both legislative chambers to convene jointly for the purpose of receiving the Governor’s communication.
Overall Assessment
This concurrent resolution is entirely procedural in nature, establishing only the logistics for a joint legislative session. It contains no substantive policy content related to any of the evaluated metrics. The resolution neither advances nor conflicts with any policy priorities, as it merely schedules a meeting for the Governor to address the legislature. All metrics appropriately receive a score of zero, reflecting the resolution’s complete lack of substantive policy provisions across all evaluated areas.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The resolution states only that 'the House of Representatives and the Senate meet in Joint Session on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 1 p.m. for the purpose of hearing the message from the Governor.' It contains no provisions addressing fiscal responsibility, taxation, balanced budgets, government spending, or any other substantive governance matters.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill text is limited to scheduling a joint session and makes no reference to citizen involvement, primary elections, ranked-choice voting, voting rights, or public participation in government. The resolution is purely an internal legislative procedural matter.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to education policy, school choice, curriculum standards, teacher compensation, parental rights in education, or any educational matters. The entire text concerns only the scheduling of a legislative session.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
The bill makes no reference to agriculture, farming, ranching, agricultural education, trade, water rights for agriculture, or any related matters. The resolution's sole purpose is 'PROVIDING FOR A JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE ... FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.'
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The resolution does not address water rights, water appropriation, inter-basin transfers, dam operations, or any water-related policy matters. It is entirely procedural, establishing only the time and place for a joint legislative session.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
No provisions in this resolution relate to natural resources, environmental policy, wilderness areas, federal lands, forest management, or any environmental matters. The bill text is limited to scheduling logistics for the Governor's address.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The resolution contains no language addressing energy independence, energy resources, hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, deregulation, or any energy policy matters. The entire content concerns arranging a joint session to hear the Governor's message.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
The bill makes no reference to the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, technology development, or related matters. The resolution is unrelated to laboratory operations or research priorities.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The resolution does not address property rights, takings, eminent domain, or property development regulations. The text states only that both chambers will 'meet in Joint Session on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 1 p.m. for the purpose of hearing the message from the Governor.'
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
No provisions relate to state or federal land management, land ownership, land transfers, or land administration. The bill schedules a legislative session only and contains no substantive land policy content.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The resolution contains no language regarding wildlife management, hunting, fishing, predator control, or Fish and Game Department operations. It is purely procedural, arranging for the Governor to deliver a message to the legislature.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
The resolution does not address commerce, industry, small business, labor, transportation, taxation, or any economic policy matters. The bill text is limited to procedural language establishing the joint session: 'WHEREAS, the Governor has informed the House of Representatives and the Senate that he desires to deliver a message.'
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
The bill does not address health care delivery, insurance, the Affordable Care Act, medical decisions, health savings accounts, or any health and welfare policy matters. The resolution's entire purpose is scheduling a meeting to hear the Governor's message.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to family values, marriage, abortion, parental rights, children's welfare, or any family policy matters. It is solely a procedural resolution for convening a joint legislative session.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
No language in the resolution addresses policies affecting older Americans, their employment, retirement, or services available to them. The bill text concerns only the logistics of a joint session.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
The bill does not address gun rights, criminal justice, the death penalty, drug policy, incarceration, juvenile justice, or state sovereignty regarding law enforcement. The resolution is unrelated to law enforcement or justice system matters.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
The resolution makes no reference to military matters, veterans, national defense, border security, the National Guard, terrorism, or foreign policy. The entire text concerns scheduling a joint session for the Governor's address.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
The bill does not address judicial selection, judicial elections, constitutional interpretation methods, or the structure of the judiciary. It is purely procedural, establishing when and where the legislature will convene to hear the Governor.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or public expression of faith. The bill text is limited to arranging a joint legislative session.