Gayann DeMordaunt

In 2018, DeMordaunt co-sponsored the largest tax cut Idaho has seen in five years.[7] In March 2020, DeMordaunt supported SB 1277 A, a bill that would have lowered property taxes by increasing the maximum homeowner's exemption from $100,000 to $112,000.[8]

DeMordaunt also supported a bill to freeze Idaho property taxes for a year.“Property taxes happen to be the most un-American thing we do in this country,” and that the legislature "ought to be addressing property taxes in a comprehensive way.”[9]

DeMordaunt was Co-Chair of the first Idaho Legislative Regulatory Reform Joint Subcommittee 2018.[10] DeMordaunt served as co-chair of the 2018-2019 Occupational Licensing and Certification Laws Interim Committee. This joint subcommittee was focused on examining and streamlining the rules and regulations of state occupational licensing boards.[11][12][13][14] In 2019, DeMordaunt sponsored HB248, legislation to reduce regulation on Military, Veterans, and their spouses.[15]

DeMordaunt played a key role in a 2020 initiative called Idaho Codes, an online computer science course to teach middle school and high school students computer programming skills, including building websites and developing computer and phone apps. DeMordaunt spoke at the press conference announcing this new initiative. she stated she was "thrilled to introduce [this initiative] to Idaho industry because the skills acquired through Idaho Codes are both quantifiable and recognizable in today’s job market.” DeMordaunt also said that “as a mom of two high school students, I wanted this learning opportunity for my kids and every student in Idaho." [16][17]

DeMordaunt was the House sponsor of SB 1280, a bill that moved Idaho school board elections from May to November. While speaking to the House about the bill DeMordaunt said the bill was “three years in the making, involved stakeholders and compromise.” [18][19]

DeMordaunt was the House sponsor of SB 1180 which would help charter schools obtain lower interest rate on facilities bonds, a mechanism which can save taxpayer dollars. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 3rd and went into effect on July 1, 2019. [20]

DeMordaunt voted in favor of HB 523 which would increase state funding for teacher salaries incrementally over five years. According to DeMordaunt, the bill has the potential to increase student achievement because "retaining these experienced teachers...is the thing that may, in fact, move the needle."[21]

DeMordaunt drafted and sponsored HB 606 and 611, both of which increase government transparency. Both bills were signed into law by the Governor. HB 606 amends the Open Meetings Law to include public agencies, including those established through executive order of the governor. HB 611 requires the agenda for open meetings of government entities to be posted online and that "action items" on the agenda be clearly labeled. [22]

During the 2018 session of the Idaho House, DeMordaunt was the lead sponsor of SB 1243, an “abortion-reversal” bill, a bill that was also sponsored by Right to Life of Idaho. SB 1243 requires that a woman be informed that she may be able to reverse the chemical abortion procedure in the event that she changes her mind. In addition, the Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare is required to include this information in the informed consent materials that are provided to every woman who is considering an abortion. This bill passed both the House and the Senate and was signed into law on March 20, 2018.[23][24][25]

During the 2019 session of the Idaho House, DeMordaunt was a sponsor of SB 1049, a bill that updated the Idaho Partial-Birth Abortion ban to be consistent with federal law. Specifically, the legislation bans partial-birth abortions except when necessary to save a pregnant mother's life. Governor Little signed this bill into law on March 7, 2019. [26] [27]

NRA endorsed DeMordaunt for the 2020 primary elections in Idaho and gave her an "A" rating on Second Amendment issues.[28]

In 2018, DeMordaunt voted in favor of SB 1313, a "stand your ground" bill that was designed to consolidate and codify existing law to clearly protect the rights of individuals to defend themselves. This legislation clarifies that a person may exercise the right of self-defense in their home, in their vehicle, and at their place of business or employment.[29][30]

2016

With her husband Reed DeMordaunt choosing not to run for re election DeMordaunt decided to run.[31]

DeMordaunt defeated Douglas R. Jones in the Republican primary with 69.98% of the vote.[32]

DeMordaunt defeated Glida Bothwell in the general election with 72.17% of the vote.[33]

DeMordaunt lost to Barry Peterson (Idaho) to replace Norm Semanko as chair of the Idaho Republican Party in 2012.[34][35]