The Senate has voted unanimously to pass SB 1246, a bill necessitated solely by how long Idaho's legislative session has run this year. "This bill, as long as I've been in the Senate, has only had to be brought one other time," Senate Majority Leader…
The Senate has voted 28-5 in favor of HB 334, the bill to raise DMV administrative fees, for things like title certificates and driver's licenses, by $13.1 million a year. Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, said he was unhappy that the fees "will be imposed…
Two new task forces are created by the new bills introduced in Ways & Means this morning. The first, the governor's task force on modernizing transportation funding in Idaho, would have 15 members, including five from the House and five from the Senate. Its findings…
The three new transportation bills all were introduced in Ways & Means and sent to the 2nd Reading calendar in the House. Chairman Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, expressed concern about setting up a situation where ISP and parks funding would have to rely on a…
House Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, told the House Ways & Means Committee just now, "I think we can all agree with this, that education is going the way of virtuals." HB 303, which sought to fund virtual, or online education, just like funding…
The House Ways & Means Committee has posted an agenda for a meeting this morning, to consider four new bills:* One regarding a governor's task force on transportation funding, to be presented by House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly* One on a task force…
The Idaho Department of Correction has decided against pursuing privatization of the state prison at Orofino, a controversial move opposed by the local community, where the state prison is among the major employers. "The department identified several key services provided at the Orofino prison that…
Jon Hanian, press secretary for Gov. Butch Otter, declined to comment on the transportation funding deal this afternoon, but said, "I can tell you that it's been a very productive day. It's been a busy day. ... We feel like we've been able to make…
The Senate reconvened, amended HB 338, the ethanol bill, as planned, and adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow. The House also has adjourned until the same time. Meanwhile, the House minority and majority caucuses have concluded, and House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said, "There…
The House Education Committee has met and passed out HB 211, a bill that adjusts legislation that passed last year to standardize residency rules for higher education. The change, which isn't controversial, accommodates Idahoans who go elsewhere for their undergraduate education, then return to their…
Legislation to raise $13.1 million a year more from DMV fees also has cleared the Senate Transportation Committee and is on its way to the full Senate, as part of a tentative end-of-session transportation funding deal. Meanwhile, House Republicans are headed into a closed-door caucus…
HB 226, the bill from Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, to attempt to make Idaho a truck trailer logo license-plate Mecca, passed the House unanimously on March 20, but has languished ever since. Now it's being heard in the Senate Transportation Committee, as one small piece…
The Senate Transportation Committee has voted unanimously to add an amendment to HB 338, the bill eliminating the ethanol exemption from fuel tax, to direct the distribution of the funds to ITD for road maintenance. "We decided this about an hour ago," Senate Transportation Chairman…
A tentative agreement has emerged on transportation funding, and the Senate Transportation Committee will meet momentarily. There are three bills on its agenda: HB 226, Rep. Marv Hagedorn's bill regarding truck license plates; HB 334, the DMV fee bill; and HB 338, the ethanol bill.…
House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, had this to say about the House GOP leadership's meeting with the governor this morning: "We're still talking, and that's good." Denney said, "I think we will caucus - I've told people to be back around 2."Of the ongoing talks…
The Senate has convened, just briefly, and then the majority went back into a closed-door caucus meeting. Senate GOP leaders said when they arrived at Gov. Butch Otter's office, the House GOP leaders already had left. They met separately with the governor for about an…
Gov. Butch Otter has signed HB 256 and HB 262 into law. The bills, as amended in the Senate, make changes in the formula for reimbursing school districts for student busing costs, and freeze teachers' movement on the salary grid for experience for one year.…
Senate Republicans emerged from their closed-door caucus, and their leadership, plus the Senate finance and transportation committee chairmen, headed straight over to meet with Gov. Butch Otter, who's already been meeting with House GOP leaders. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis said the governor's office called…
Here's a news item from AP: "Lawmakers and Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter are discussing ways to end the impasse keeping the 2009 Legislature in Boise. In the mix: A plan to levy new fees for traffic infractions and registrations, to wean roughly $16 million in…
The House has convened and recessed indefinitely, as the entire House GOP leadership team headed off to meet with Gov. Butch Otter again. The Senate convened, did some formal business, and then recessed until 2 p.m. for caucuses for both parties. Senate Majority Leader Bart…
In honor of the legislative session's 115th day, I humbly offer this legislative haiku:What price leadership?Endless waves of strident wordsHurry up and wait.
House and Senate GOP leaders emerged from their meeting with the governor just now looking somewhat encouraged, but reporting nothing more than vague "progress." House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, said, "We discussed several things - nothing ready for prime time yet, though. ... We will…
Idaho's speaker of the House has decided to unilaterally kill legislation to expand Idaho's Sunshine Law, which would have ended the state's distinction as one of just three states with no personal financial disclosure requirements for elected officials or candidates. "The Senate and the governor…