Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: HCR021 – America250 Celebration & Volunteerism Resolution
Bill Summary
House Concurrent Resolution No. 21 declares 2026 as the Year of Volunteerism and the America250 in Idaho Service Challenge to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday. The resolution recognizes ‘Forever Idaho’ as the official theme song for the America250 in Idaho ambassadors and Revolutionary Spuds mascots, which have traveled throughout the state promoting civic engagement and collecting signatures on a replica Declaration of Independence displayed in the capitol rotunda.
The resolution challenges Idahoans to collectively perform 250,000 acts of service between January and July 4, 2026, inviting participation from all generations. It encourages all citizens to sign Idaho’s replica of the Declaration of Independence and urges the Idaho Department of Lands to plant trees as part of the Liberty Groves: Roots of Freedom initiative, establishing groves of working forests throughout the state to symbolize liberty, unity, and renewal.
Overall Assessment
This ceremonial resolution receives a total score of +1, reflecting minimal but positive alignment with the evaluation metrics. The resolution primarily promotes civic engagement and volunteerism without creating new government programs, appropriating funds, or modifying existing laws. Its strongest alignment is with citizen involvement in government through the encouragement of community service and civic participation. The resolution remains neutral on nearly all other policy areas, as it functions as a declarative statement rather than substantive legislation affecting government operations, natural resources, education, or other policy domains.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This resolution does not appropriate funds, create new government programs, impose taxes, or modify government structure. The resolution merely declares 2026 as a year of volunteerism and encourages the Department of Lands to plant trees, without mandating action or allocating resources. It contains no provisions related to fiscal responsibility, congressional reform, or government operations.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (1)
The resolution directly promotes citizen participation by challenging Idahoans to 'collectively perform 250,000 acts of service' and encouraging them to sign the replica Declaration of Independence. The WHEREAS clauses explicitly state the Legislature 'has invited all Idahoans to promote an awareness and understanding of the principles contained in the nation's founding documents, including representative government, personal responsibility, individual liberty, and equal and inalienable rights.' This represents a clear encouragement of civic engagement and community involvement.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
While the resolution mentions 'engaging families and students' and references schools in the Liberty Groves initiative context, it does not establish educational programs, modify school funding, affect curricula, or address parental rights. The educational references are incidental to the broader commemorative purpose rather than substantive education policy. The resolution contains no provisions on school choice, teacher incentives, or educational standards.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
The resolution makes no reference to agriculture, farming, ranching, agricultural education, or related policy matters. The 'Revolutionary Spud' mascots are promotional characters based on the Idaho Potato Commission's mascot but do not constitute agricultural policy. No provisions address farm operations, agricultural markets, or farming practices.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to water rights, water management, water appropriation, dams, inter-basin transfers, or any water-related policy matters. The tree planting initiative does not address water law or water resource management.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
The resolution encourages the Department of Lands to plant trees as part of Liberty Groves, described as 'groves of working forests across the state.' However, this is merely non-binding encouragement without regulatory mandates, land use changes, or environmental policy modifications. The provision does not constitute substantive natural resource management or environmental regulation, as it creates no enforceable requirements or standards.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to energy policy, energy independence, hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, or any energy-related matters. No references to energy resources or energy development appear in the text.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, technology transfer, or related research and development activities. No mention of INL or its operations appears in the bill text.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The resolution contains no provisions that would affect private property rights, eminent domain, property regulations, or development rights. The tree planting encouragement does not implicate property ownership or use restrictions.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
While the resolution mentions the Department of Lands planting trees, it does not address federal land management, transfer of federal lands to state control, or reduction of federal land holdings. The provision is an encouragement for state agency action on state lands without addressing federal-state land jurisdiction issues.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to wildlife management, hunting, fishing, predator control, or Fish and Game Department policies. No references to wildlife, game species, or habitat management appear in the text.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to economic development, commerce, industry, small business, labor, taxation, or transportation policy. The volunteerism initiative does not constitute economic policy or commercial regulation.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to healthcare, health insurance, welfare programs, Medicaid expansion, or related social services. No health or welfare policy matters are addressed in the text.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
While the resolution mentions 'engage families' in the WHEREAS clauses, it does not establish family policy, affect marriage definitions, address abortion, or modify policies related to children and families. The family references are incidental to the broader civic engagement purpose rather than substantive family policy.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
The resolution mentions 'from our youngest students to our wisest seniors' in the service challenge context, but contains no substantive provisions affecting policies for older Americans. No provisions address Social Security, Medicare, retirement, or services for seniors.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to criminal justice, gun rights, drug policy, incarceration, law enforcement, or the death penalty. No references to public safety or justice system matters appear in the text.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to national defense, military operations, veterans' affairs, border security, or National Guard deployment. No references to defense or border matters appear in the bill text.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to judicial elections, constitutional interpretation, textualism, originalism, or court operations. No references to the judiciary or legal processes appear in the text.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The resolution contains no provisions related to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, or conscience protections. While the founding principles referenced may have religious foundations, the resolution does not explicitly address religious liberty or faith-based matters.