A new, 26-page urban renewal reform bill was introduced this morning in House Rev & Tax, after a subcommittee of that panel studied seven other bills from various sponsors which then all were rejected in favor of the new measure. The new bill introduced this morning was proposed by Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, who chaired the subcommittee. Here's a report on it from the Associated Press:

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Boise economic development officials are raising concerns that a bill aimed at reforming Idaho's 1965 urban renewal law includes provisions that could hurt their ability to sell bonds to finance their projects. The 26-page bill, introduced Monday in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, would, among other things, make it easier for a mayor or city council to remove members of an urban renewal district's board. Phil Kushlan, executive director of the Capital City Development Corp. in Boise, has been told by lawyers that such a provision — aimed at increasing accountability of urban renewal districts — could result in a judge deciding that such districts are mere extensions of local governments. If that's the case, two-thirds of voters would be required to approve any long-term debt incurred by the district, something that's not currently required.

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