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Joe A Palmer

Republican · ID · Idaho State Representative, District 20 Seat A

Official website

Ninth-term state representative from Meridian, a self-employed fourth-generation Idahoan and former Idaho National Guard member. Chairs the House Transportation & Defense Committee.

Where Joe A Palmer stands, based on their records

Supports

Healthcare Affordability (2 records), Government Efficiency (1 record), Public Safety and Crime Control (6 records),

Opposes

Labor Rights (1 record), Immigration (2 records), Housing Affordability (1 record),

Mixed record

Environment and Public Health (2 support · 3 oppose), Anti-Corruption (1 support · 1 oppose), Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 5 oppose),

Track record

Track record — Healthcare Affordability

Healthcare Affordability · 2 support
  • Voted for Senate Bill 1294, which requires every newborn to be screened for hearing loss. The Idaho House passed it 37-32, and it became law.

    March 26, 2026Supports Healthcare Affordability

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 929, which lets an insured patient pay cash and still get credit toward their deductible. The Idaho House passed it 49-21, and it became law.

    March 20, 2026Supports Healthcare Affordability

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Environment and Public Health

Environment and Public Health · 2 support · 3 oppose
  • Voted for Senate Bill 1269, which sets up a state cloud seeding program. The Idaho House passed it 40-28, and it became law.

    March 17, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1210, the Idaho Medical Freedom Act, which bars almost every medical requirement in the state. The Idaho House passed it 44-23, and it became law.

    April 4, 2025Opposes Environment and Public Health

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 109, which orders the state to seek a federal waiver removing candy and soda from food stamps. The Idaho House passed it 48-20, and it became law.

    March 31, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 290, which moves school and daycare vaccine requirements from health board rules into state law. The Idaho House passed it 49-21, and it became law.

    March 5, 2025Opposes Environment and Public Health

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 32, which bans mask mandates by any state or local body in Idaho. The Idaho House passed it 52-16, and it became law.

    January 29, 2025Opposes Environment and Public Health

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Labor Rights

Labor Rights · 1 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 516, which bars school districts from deducting union dues or using public money to support teachers unions. The Idaho House passed it 43-24, and it became law.

    April 2, 2026Opposes Labor Rights

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Anti-Corruption

Anti-Corruption · 1 support · 1 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 253, which lets agencies treat public records requests from non-residents differently. The Idaho House passed it 45-24, and it became law.

    April 3, 2025Opposes Anti-Corruption

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 398, which rewrites Idaho's lobbying rules and widens what counts as lobbying. The Idaho House passed it 54-14, and it became law.

    March 25, 2025Supports Anti-Corruption

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Government Efficiency

Government Efficiency · 1 support
  • Voted for Senate Bill 1300, which lets the governor appoint the directors of Fish and Game, Transportation and Parks. The Idaho House passed it 41-29, and it became law.

    March 24, 2026Supports Government Efficiency

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Immigration

Immigration · 2 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 667, which ends Idaho's non-domiciled commercial driver's license program. The Idaho House passed it 46-21, and it became law.

    March 3, 2026Opposes Immigration

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 135, which removes exemptions from the lawful presence check for public benefits. The Idaho House passed it 46-22, and it became law.

    March 17, 2025Opposes Immigration

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Government Spending Reduction

Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 5 oppose
  • Sponsored House Bill 25 on the House floor. It sent more sales tax money to a state road expansion and traffic program and to local highway projects. The House passed it 70-0, and the governor signed it.

    April 1, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for House Bill 521, which changed tax rates, school building funding, and school bond and levy elections. The House passed it 61-6, and the governor signed it.

    March 29, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted against House Bill 24, which created the Idaho Launch Grant Program for workforce training. The House passed it 36-34, and the governor signed it.

    March 28, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 362 on the House floor. It increased state and local transportation funding through sales tax. The House passed it 59-11, and the governor signed it.

    May 10, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 325 on the House floor. It changed the sales tax share for a state road expansion fund and set up a bridge repair fund. The Legislature passed it, but the governor vetoed it.

    March 24, 2020Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 107 on the House floor. It changed how sales tax money goes to transportation and set up a bridge repair and replacement program. The House passed it 52-18, but the Senate voted it down 16-19.

    March 21, 2019Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control

Public Safety and Crime Control · 6 support
  • Voted for Senate Bill 1311, which tightens ignition interlock rules for drunk driving offenders. The Idaho House passed it 40-28, and it became law.

    March 23, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 271, which makes it a misdemeanor to advertise a product or service that is illegal where offered. The Idaho House passed it 50-20, and it became law.

    March 31, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 187, which sets out what people on felony probation and parole must be told and agree to. The Idaho House passed it 47-18, and it became law.

    February 24, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 7, which sets a minimum $300 fine for adults convicted of possessing a small amount of marijuana. The Idaho House passed it 54-14, and it became law.

    January 21, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Sponsored House Bill 614 on the House floor. It banned using certain electronic devices while driving, set penalties, and overrode local rules. The House passed it 49-21, and the governor signed it.

    March 24, 2020Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 388 on the House floor. It changed what drivers must do when an emergency or police vehicle approaches. The House passed it 65-0, and the governor signed it.

    March 14, 2018Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support · 1 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 240, which opens outdoor campus areas at public colleges to speech and bans free speech zones. The Idaho House passed it 55-15, and it became law.

    March 4, 2025Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 187, which sets out what people on felony probation and parole must be told and agree to. The Idaho House passed it 47-18, and it became law.

    February 24, 2025Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Housing Affordability

Housing Affordability · 1 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 583, which narrows what cities and counties may do about short-term rentals. The Idaho House passed it 54-16, and it became law.

    February 12, 2026Opposes Housing Affordability

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Social Programs and Welfare

Social Programs and Welfare · 3 support · 3 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 776, which requires child protection checks within twelve hours for babies in risky homes. The Idaho House passed it 49-18, and it became law.

    March 18, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1257, which limits face-to-face visits in child protection cases involving abuse. The Idaho House passed it 44-24, and it became law.

    March 17, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 109, which orders the state to seek a federal waiver removing candy and soda from food stamps. The Idaho House passed it 48-20, and it became law.

    March 31, 2025Opposes Social Programs and Welfare

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 135, which removes exemptions from the lawful presence check for public benefits. The Idaho House passed it 46-22, and it became law.

    March 17, 2025Opposes Social Programs and Welfare

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 245, which raises the age limit for extended foster care from 21 to 23. The Idaho House passed it 53-17, and it became law.

    February 25, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 277, which added work requirements and managed care for people who got Medicaid through its expansion. The House passed it 45-25.

    March 21, 2019Opposes Social Programs and Welfare

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Track record — Public Education Quality

Public Education Quality · 2 support
  • Voted for Senate Bill 1288, which creates a state fund to help schools pay for very expensive special education. The Idaho House passed it 49-21, and it became law.

    March 24, 2026Supports Public Education Quality

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 521, which changed tax rates, school building funding, and school bond and levy elections. The House passed it 61-6, and the governor signed it.

    March 29, 2024Supports Public Education Quality

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Track record — Gun Control

Gun Control · 2 oppose
  • Voted for Senate Bill 1254, which changed gun rules on college campuses. It also set penalties for carrying a concealed gun on campus while drunk or high. The House passed it 50-19, and the governor signed it.

    March 12, 2014Opposes Gun Control

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 65 on the House floor. It let Idaho residents buy guns in other states and let nonresidents buy guns in Idaho. The House passed it 66-3, and the governor signed it.

    April 8, 2009Opposes Gun Control

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights

Women's Reproductive Rights · 3 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 242, which created the crime of abortion trafficking. The House passed it, and the governor signed it.

    April 5, 2023Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1309, which changed the bans, penalties, and lawsuits under Idaho's Fetal Heartbeat Preborn Child Protection Act. The House passed it 51-14, and the governor signed it.

    March 23, 2022Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for House Bill 220, which bans using public money for abortion. The House passed it, and the governor signed it.

    May 10, 2021Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction

Personal Income Tax Reduction · 1 support
  • Voted for House Bill 436, which changed individual and corporate income tax rates and gave an income tax rebate. The House passed it 57-13, and the governor signed it.

    February 4, 2022Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Track record — Data Privacy

Data Privacy · 2 support
  • Voted for Senate Bill 1180, which sets rules for how agencies may use automated license plate readers. The Idaho House passed it 45-24, and it became law.

    April 3, 2025Supports Data Privacy

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 35, which requires multifactor login security across Idaho state government. The Idaho House passed it 54-16, and it became law.

    January 27, 2025Supports Data Privacy

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Civil Rights

Civil Rights · 1 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 752, which makes using a restroom or changing room meant for the opposite sex a misdemeanor. The Idaho House passed it 54-15, and it became law.

    March 16, 2026Opposes Civil Rights

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Corporate Accountability

Corporate Accountability · 3 support · 1 oppose
  • Voted for House Bill 562, which raises insurance cancellation notice from 30 to 60 days. The Idaho House passed it 51-17, and it became law.

    March 5, 2026Supports Corporate Accountability

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1183, which presumes a utility was not negligent in a wildfire if it followed an approved mitigation plan. The Idaho House passed it 46-23, and it became law.

    March 27, 2025Opposes Corporate Accountability

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 136, which makes hospitals and clinics report what they earn from the 340B discount drug program. The Idaho House passed it 52-18, and it became law.

    March 26, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 294, which removes the caps on civil penalties for breaking pipeline safety laws. The Idaho House passed it 44-26, and it became law.

    March 3, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability

    Source: legiscan.com

Track record — Public Infrastructure

Public Infrastructure · 7 support
  • Voted for House Bill 508, which widens when highway districts may build bike lanes and sidewalks. The Idaho House passed it 39-29, and it became law.

    March 17, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 180, which puts city and county decisions on broadband and cell tower permits on a clock. The Idaho House passed it 48-20, and it became law.

    April 3, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Sponsored House Bill 25 on the House floor. It sent more sales tax money to a state road expansion and traffic program and to local highway projects. The House passed it 70-0, and the governor signed it.

    April 1, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 362 on the House floor. It increased state and local transportation funding through sales tax. The House passed it 59-11, and the governor signed it.

    May 10, 2021Supports Public Infrastructure

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 325 on the House floor. It changed the sales tax share for a state road expansion fund and set up a bridge repair fund. The Legislature passed it, but the governor vetoed it.

    March 24, 2020Supports Public Infrastructure

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 107 on the House floor. It changed how sales tax money goes to transportation and set up a bridge repair and replacement program. The House passed it 52-18, but the Senate voted it down 16-19.

    March 21, 2019Supports Public Infrastructure

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 312 on the House floor, a 2015 road funding law. It changed vehicle registration fees and the motor fuel tax, and added a fee for electric and hybrid cars. The governor signed it.

    April 21, 2015Supports Public Infrastructure

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Track record — General

General · 37 records
  • Voted against Senate Bill 1352, which requires larger cities to allow small starter home subdivisions. The Idaho House passed it 36-34, and it became law.

    March 26, 2026

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted against Senate Bill 1354, which requires cities to allow accessory dwelling units on single-family lots. The Idaho House passed it 47-23, and it became law.

    March 26, 2026

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted against House Bill 930, which requires campaigns to keep all money in a dedicated checking account. The Idaho House passed it 36-34, and it became law.

    March 20, 2026

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Sponsored House Bill 576 on the House floor. It made Idaho residency a requirement to get money from the state's ICAR fund. The House passed it 53-14, and the governor signed it.

    March 18, 2026

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted against House Bill 849, which credits industry experience to raise pay for career technical education teachers. The Idaho House passed it 43-25, and it became law.

    March 10, 2026

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted against House Bill 723, which adds state oversight and inspection of children's residential care facilities. The Idaho House passed it 42-25, and it became law.

    March 3, 2026

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1198, which bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices and required training at public colleges. The Idaho House passed it 52-17, and it became law.

    April 3, 2025

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Sponsored House Bill 402 on the House floor. It changed which documents people may use to prove identity and citizenship status. The House passed it 65-5, and the governor signed it.

    April 2, 2025

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted against Senate Bill 1139, which limits the automatic felony bar on becoming a police officer to serious felonies. The Idaho House passed it 49-15, and it became law.

    March 19, 2025

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Sponsored House Bill 13 on the House floor. It exempted UTVs with a roll cage and seat belts from safety helmet rules. The House passed it, and the governor signed it.

    March 14, 2025

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 86 on the House floor. It barred laws that require electric vehicle charging stations or parking spaces in building plans, overriding local rules. The House passed it 61-9, and the governor signed it.

    March 11, 2025

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted against Senate Bill 1069, which requires literacy training for every teacher and elementary administrator of young children. The Idaho House passed it 40-30, and it became law.

    March 11, 2025

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted against House Bill 79, which raises the cap on community college tuition from $2,500 to $3,250 a year. The Idaho House passed it 52-17, and it became law.

    February 5, 2025

    Source: legiscan.com

  • Voted for House Bill 710, which barred schools and public libraries from giving certain materials to minors and allowed lawsuits for damages. The House passed it 47-23, and the governor signed it.

    April 10, 2024

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Made the motion on the House floor to keep Mike Moyle as House Speaker. The House voted unanimously to keep him, the same day Republicans removed their majority leader.

    February 8, 2024

    Source: blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org

  • Voted for House Bill 314, which barred schools and public libraries from giving certain materials to minors and let people sue. The Legislature passed it, but the governor vetoed it.

    April 5, 2023

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for House Bill 71, the Vulnerable Child Protection Act. The House passed it, and the governor signed it.

    April 4, 2023

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 287 on the House floor. It made the state energy code override local energy rules, including in the past. The House passed it 59-10, and the governor signed it.

    March 31, 2023

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 442 on the House floor. It barred local governments from regulating rent, fees, or deposits for renting private homes. The House passed it 54-14, and it went to a Senate committee.

    February 7, 2022

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for House Bill 377, a law on dignity and nondiscrimination in public schools that bars spending money for certain purposes. The House passed it 57-12, and the governor signed it.

    April 28, 2021

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1110, which changed signature rules for ballot initiative and referendum petitions. The House passed it 51-18, and the governor signed it.

    April 17, 2021

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for House Bill 509, which set required facts on birth certificates and rules for changing them. The House passed it 53-16, and the governor signed it.

    March 30, 2020

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for House Bill 500, the Fairness in Women's Sports Act. The House passed it, and the governor signed it.

    March 30, 2020

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 413 on the House floor. It required certain cities to create districts for electing city council members. The House passed it 53-16, and the governor signed it.

    March 25, 2020

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1159, which changed the requirements for getting a ballot initiative on the ballot. The House passed it 40-30, but the governor vetoed it.

    April 5, 2019

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 168 on the House floor. It let state and local road agencies set routes and permits for trucks weighing 105,501 to 129,000 pounds. The House passed it 64-0, and the governor signed it.

    March 22, 2019

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 547 on the House floor. It changed when local governments may adopt building codes the Idaho Building Code Board has not adopted. The House passed it 52-16, and the governor signed it.

    March 28, 2018

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Co-chaired a legislative panel on truck registration fees that ended without recommending any changes. He had also co-chaired a 2016 panel on Idaho's faith-healing exemption that made no recommendations.

    November 9, 2017

    Source: spokesman.com

  • Voted for House Bill 67, which removed the sales tax on food. The House passed it, but the governor vetoed it.

    April 11, 2017

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 544 on the House floor. It banned showing obscene or indecent films and pictures at businesses licensed to sell alcohol. The House passed it 68-0, and the governor signed it.

    March 30, 2016

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Sponsored House Bill 513 on the House floor. It changed Idaho's directions on carrying out the federal REAL ID Act. The House passed it 53-14, and the governor signed it.

    March 28, 2016

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Appealed a Meridian planning ruling that he broke city zoning law by living in the back of his consignment store. He said the city was targeting him.

    May 4, 2012

    Source: spokesman.com

  • Co-sponsored House Bill 619 on the House floor. It removed parts of state law on how local authorities regulate speed. The House passed it 56-10, and the governor signed it.

    April 5, 2012

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for House Bill 298, which said the state may not enforce parts of certain federal health care laws. The House passed it 50-17, but the governor vetoed it.

    April 20, 2011

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1110, which set up pay for performance in Idaho public schools. The House passed it 44-26, and the governor signed it.

    March 17, 2011

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for Senate Bill 1108, a 2011 school law that changed the rules for how school boards employ teachers and staff. The House passed it 48-22, and the governor signed it.

    March 17, 2011

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

  • Voted for House Bill 391, the Idaho Health Freedom Act of 2010. The House passed it 52-18, and the governor signed it.

    March 17, 2010

    Source: legislature.idaho.gov

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