Secure Idaho

HB 704 (E-Verify) passed the House 43–26. It hasn’t even been given a path to a floor vote in the Senate. Why? Idahoans deserve answers. 👇

The dairy lobby is working overtime to kill Idaho’s E-Verify bill (HB 704). This thread explains why. 👇 When an industry depends on illegal labor, enforcement becomes “controversial.”

@CommonSince46 🎯

@secureIDelect Got it, thanks. So, it appears the sheriffs are admitting they are unable to publish a statement declaring the reasons and any alternative cooperation efforts with ICE, should they decline. Agreed, seems like a pretty weak excuse.

The latest immigration enforcement bill just died in the Idaho Senate. The bill had an opt-out for sheriffs but the committee still chose to stop it. Meanwhile, stronger bills like E-Verify are not even being granted hearings. Idahoans deserve to know why enforcement bills pass the House overwhelmingly and then stall in the Senate. We will keep pushing. Watch our interview with @Citizens_Idaho below. 👇

"While the donation recipient identities are well-controlled, the donor identities are very much not, with organizations and individuals appearing in multiple versions, along with things like family members and controlled LLCs that act in concert. Some manual data cleaning will be necessary to make substantial progress." That was our experience when tracking the illegal labor lobby, "Simplot" showed up under at least 6 different iterations.

Here's an example from early work on contributions to 2026 legislature primary candidates (R only):

My latest analysis of the 2026 Idaho Legislature is up at Gem State Chronicles. Below, a short 🧵on a new project. x.com/gemstatechron/…

Yes, the Sheriffs union and Police Chiefs union opposed it. But the bill had a simple opt-out. Any sheriff could decline participation and explain that choice publicly. So the arguments about “state overreach” and “resource strain” don’t really hold up. The bill mainly created transparency for voters.

@secureIDelect The reason is long since known: strong opposition from the Idaho Sheriffs Association and Chiefs of Police over state overreach, resource strain/costs, and vague language requiring participation in any future 287(g) programs.

HB 660 just passed the Idaho House, 40–30. The bill simply requires state and local law enforcement to verify and record the immigration status and nationality of individuals who are arrested. Nothing radical. Just basic transparency. The House has acted. Now the question: will the Senate give it a hearing? Or will it get stuffed in a drawer like the other immigration enforcement bills?

Governor, while bills are reaching your desk, many immigration enforcement measures are dying in the legislature despite strong support from Idaho voters. In Florida, @GovRonDeSantis led on enforcement by pushing statewide cooperation with ICE through the 287(g) program. Idaho could use that kind of leadership right now. Will you lead?

Bills are officially making their way to my desk, now it feels like March!

With only a few weeks left in session, Idahoans deserve clarity. Will HB 704, Idaho’s E-Verify illegal labor enforcement bill, receive a hearing in Senate State Affairs? @kelly_a_anthon voters across Idaho are asking whether this bill will be allowed a vote before the session ends.

@Kyle_Carlson_19 @joekanyou @TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon Great question. To be clear, it IS consequential. Relative to E-Verify, however, it would likely have less of an impact on the population of illegals in Idaho

@secureIDelect @joekanyou @TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon Just curious. How was mandatory 287(g) "the least consequential"? Isn't mandatory 287(g), particularly the task force model, one of the *best* ways for states to enforce illegal immigration?

HB 659, a bill to ensure Idaho law enforcement agencies apply for available 287(g) partnerships with ICE while providing an opt-out with public explanation, was killed in Senate State Affairs today. Thank you to Senators @TheBenAdams3, @kelly_a_anthon, Den Hartog, and Ben Toews for standing up for transparency and the rule of law. Public safety standards should not vary from county to county. Idaho should never tolerate sanctuary jurisdictions. The issue isn’t going away.

@drewmatich x.com/secureIDelect/…

@secureIDelect Dude. Someone needs geography lessons.

1/ Across the country, immigration enforcement bills are hitting the same wall. Not the voters. Not the House. The State Senate. Here’s what’s happening in several states right now. 👇

HB 660 PASSES COMMITTEE : 8–7 This bill does one simple thing: It ensures legislators and the public have accurate statewide data about how many illegals are being booked into Idaho jails. Next stop: the House floor. The people of Idaho deserve transparency.

@speakup_real @TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon Yes, this is the ultimate corrective measure. And we intend to help make that happen. Stay tuned.

@secureIDelect @TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon More primaries.

There’s some truth to that. Committee referrals often determine the fate of legislation long before it reaches the floor. Legislative politics ("how the game is played") involves strategic bill assignments or votes taken when the outcome is already clear. This may be one of those situations. Our role is to make those outcomes transparent so Idaho voters can see how the process actually works behind the scenes.

@secureIDelect @TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon This wasn't a good vote. The outcome was determined when it went to State Affairs. Plus if the Senate Pro Tem actually wanted the vote to get to the floor it would have made it to the floor. Don't be bamboozled by the "aw shucks I have no power here" nonsense.

@McgruffRiley A fair concern. Committee hearings and votes often reflect leadership decisions about which bills move forward. Our role is to make these outcomes transparent so Idaho voters can see how decisions are made. No factions, no favorites.

Guthrie, Bernt- of course. Anthon likely voted yes to appease & get votes- knowing HB 659 would be defeated. #Howthegameisplayed

You raise a fair point. HB 659 was also the least consequential of the immigration bills pending in the Senate. Committee assignments matter, and they ultimately reflect decisions made by Senate leadership. We will continue to make these outcomes transparent so the public understands how these decisions are made.

@secureIDelect @TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon If @kelly_a_anthon REALLY supported HB659, he'd reconfigure Senate State Affairs, removing RINOs consistently voting to stop immigration enforcement from committees. He didn't when other good bills were killed, he won't do it now, so I don't believe him. Empty words.

@TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon Special thank you to @DaleHawkinsID and @brian_lenney for sponsoring HB 659 and standing up for transparency, consistent enforcement, and the rule of law in Idaho. This fight isn’t over.

@PeterKrantz12 @TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon You raise a very valid point but we still need to give credit for good votes.

@secureIDelect @TheBenAdams3 @kelly_a_anthon It's easy to support a bill one already knew would not have the votes to advance. No one should be thanked for this committee show vote. Nothing has changed.