Lyle Johnstone: Protecting what makes Idaho great for future generations

I am a third-generation Idahoan with roots in Jerome County. As a husband, father, and grandfather, I care deeply about preserving what makes Idaho special while confronting pressures facing families, seniors, agriculture, and communities.

Here in Blaine, Jerome, and Lincoln counties, rising living costs and pressure on our water resources threaten families’ ability to build lives and livelihoods in the communities they love.

As your state legislator, protecting Idaho’s water resources will be a top priority. Agriculture remains a foundation of our economy, and dependable water is essential to farms, businesses, and communities. Water policy must be based on sound information, transparency, and long-term planning.

As Idaho grows, major industrial and commercial developments must account for agriculture, communities, and long-term residential water needs. Economic development is important, but it cannot come at the expense of resources Idahoans depend upon. That balance is absolutely essential.

Affordability is another priority. Housing costs, property taxes, utilities, groceries, and other expenses have climbed significantly. Those pressures hit seniors on fixed incomes, young families buying their first homes, and working families struggling to remain in their communities.

As your representative, I will work to repeal Idaho’s grocery tax and provide meaningful property tax relief so homeownership remains attainable.

Education also deserves attention. Idaho’s performance in reading and mathematics should concern everyone who cares about our future. We need strong academic standards, measurable results, and accountability for public resources.

Parents must also have a role in decisions affecting their children. Our schools should prepare students for their path after graduation, whether college, technical education, military service, or the workforce.

The growth of data centers presents another challenge. These facilities bring investment but also place significant demands on electricity, water, land, and infrastructure capacity.

That is why I intend to introduce legislation repealing the special corporate tax breaks created to attract data centers to Idaho. Companies should succeed here because Idaho is a great place to invest, not because taxpayers give one industry preferential treatment.

Republicans hold an overwhelming majority in the Idaho Legislature, but meaningful reform requires more than casting votes. It means developing legislation, working collaboratively, and building support for conservative policies so the best ideas reach the governor’s desk.

Being part of Idaho’s Republican majority caucus is important to that process, and the numbers make that clear. Of the 344 bills that became law during the 2026 legislative session, not a single bill was primarily sponsored by a Democrat.

If Blaine, Jerome, and Lincoln counties want a representative who can do more than vote — someone who can introduce legislation, build support, move bills through committees, and help turn proposals into law — then having a Republican in this seat matters.

I intend to be an active participant in that process because our three counties deserve effective representation and a real voice in shaping Idaho policy.

Idaho has much to be proud of. Our responsibility is to protect what made our state successful while preparing for the challenges ahead. I want to help ensure the Idaho we leave our children and grandchildren remains every bit as special as the Idaho we inherited.

I ask for your vote for Idaho House Seat 26B on November 3.