HB 95, the second urban renewal bill to come up in the House today, got a much more positive reception, and the House passed it on a unanimous 68-0 vote. House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, negotiated the compromise measure with his local urban renewal district. It requires an election to form a new urban renewal district; limits their duration and bonds to 20 years; requires written consent from owners of agricultural land before it's included in a district; requires an annual public hearing on a district's activities and finances; and prevents expansion of the geographic area covered by a district.

"I think this goes a long way to correct what had been problems in the management urban renewal districts, and that is the problem in getting the public involved," said Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls. Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, said, "It does some good things about curbing some abuses and setting some parameters." Rep. Steve Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, said, "This makes a good-faith effort to leave the best part of urban renewal ... but gets some sideboards and some public transparency."