State lawmakers are back in Boise today for another week of this year's legislative session.

While home in North Idaho last weekend, a half-dozen state House and Senate members from Kootenai County reported on some of the things they are working on.

Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, said his focus this session on job creation has led to legislation that, if passed, would create at least 50 jobs in Kootenai County alone. House Bill 417 creates a sales tax exemption for materials, parts and components installed in certain aircraft. The measure already received unanimous House approval and is scheduled to go before a Senate committee on Tuesday.

Henderson also discussed "judicial confirmation" legislation introduced in the House this week. House Bill 547 would amend existing law that allows political subdivisions to incur long-term debt with approval from a judge . If passed, taxing districts and cities would have to first put the issue to a public vote, and could only seek judicial confirmation of the need for the bond or obligation after a vote failed. The legislation also addresses the use of long-term leases as a financing tool, he said.

Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, talked about his bill to ban texting while driving. That legislation has received unanimous approval by a Senate panel.

Hammond compared the texting and driving issue to drinking and driving, and said that 30 years ago the latter issue was not considered a serious threat.

He also discussed primacy legislation related to the EPA's authority to issue permits for all surface and groundwater activities.

The issue affects the timber and logging industries, crop sprayers and more, Hammond said.

"We need to manage that ourselves rather than letting the EPA do it," he said.

Setting up a local bureaucracy to monitor these permits will come at a cost, Hammond said, but it's a "crucial issue," because allowing the EPA to continue doing it will eventually result in the shutdown of development.

Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, said he has an urban renewal bill going to the House floor today. The legislation amends urban renewal law by striking the powers of eminent domain and condemnation from urban renewal agencies.

"It's just too broad powers," Nonini said.

Henderson and Nonini both indicated a budget showdown is looming.

Earlier this week, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted to write a budget that includes 4.5 percent revenue growth.

"Guess what, they want to spend it all," Nonini said.

Nonini said the committee is not planning to replenish rainy day reserve funds, so he opposes the budget as it stands.

Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, said he has been working on a bill with Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d'Alene, that would require that board members of new urban renewal agencies be selected by election rather than appointment.

Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, said he is continuing to carry forward his legislation that would require a two-thirds vote by the Legislature for any measure that would raise taxes.

Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, said the Senate Education Committee which he chairs has recommended to JFAC that as funds become available, rainy day accounts need to be filled.

"We're fairly certain that we're not going to get the same revenue stream from the federal government that we've enjoyed for the last few years," Goedde said.

He said lawmakers are considering three different plans to counter the section of Idaho's new education reform laws that shifts money from teacher salaries over the next several years to help fund technology upgrades and merit pay bonuses.

Goedde said the governor's plan would cost about $25 million, Tom Luna's plan would be a one-time shift of $18.2 million. A bill introduced last week by Sen. Dean Cameron will cover the life of the education reform legislation, and would cost about $30 million.

"His contention was that the joint committee ought to be the one that sets the budget, so we ought not be statutorily taking out of one pot and putting it in another," Goedde said. "I have no idea where that one's going to go."

Goedde said he is working on a bill that would allow the development of dry port districts in Idaho.

"A dry port has everything right that urban renewal does not," Goedde said.

The Legislators Report session took place Saturday and attracted about 60 people to the Post Falls American Legion. It was hosted by the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans, North Idaho Pachyderms and Panhandle Pachyderms.