Hannah Brass, legislative director for the ACLU of Idaho, told the Senate Transportation Committee, "We are also concerned about HB 193. ... We think it would chill public access to the courts." The bill, Rep. Dick Harwood's measure to stop lawsuits against megaloads or other proposed hauls on Idaho roads, is up for a hearing in the committee this afternoon; it's drawn lots of questions and criticisms.

Brass noted problems in the bill, as well, responding to questions raised earlier by Sen. Tim Corder, R-Mountain Home. Corder said the bill targets lawsuits against the Idaho Transportation Department, but also seems to envision the business proposing the haul as a co-defendant in the lawsuit. "I fail to see how that business becomes a party to the action," he said. Brass noted a similar concern in how the bill treats the business involved, when the lawsuit is over ITD's issuance of a permit. "They're not the ones who issue the permits to themselves," she said.