The Senate has adjourned until 9:30 on Tuesday morning, but before doing so, it agreed to move two bills to the 14th Order for amendments. The bills: HB 206, the controversial charter school facilities funding bill; and HB 120a, a measure dealing with purchases of…
The Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has sent a three-page “open letter” to Kootenai County commissioners, decrying the firing of longtime Kootenai County Public Defender John Adams. “Individuals familiar with both Mr. Adams and his office have noted that the decision to end his…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Members of an Idaho Senate panel believe it's time to take a closer look at the condition of the state's public defender system. The network of public defenders has been plagued by staffing…
Idaho lawmakers have sent a bill to the governor’s desk to limit the state Tax Commission when it garnishes a delinquent taxpayer’s pay for back taxes, penalties and interest. Under SB 1047a, the state couldn’t nab any more than 25 percent of the taxpayer’s wages.…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A civil rights group is condemning a recent decision by Kootenai County officials to terminate the contract of the region's chief public defender. Last week, Kootenai County commissioners ended its 17-year relationship with…
The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved HB 292, legislation from Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, to make assaults and batteries on health care workers a felony with up to a five-year prison term. Malek proposed the bill at the prompting of Kootenai Medical Center and…
HB 241, to make it a felony to enter an electrical substation with the intent of stealing metal, and to require scrap dealers to photograph both sellers and the metal they sell them in efforts to deter growing metal theft, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee…
Gov. Butch Otter's working group on Medicaid expansion has sent a letter to Otter saying, "Our recommendation to you to expand Medicaid has not changed in direction, only in urgency. An independent actuarial analysis of the updated federal policies shows that optional Medicaid expansion will…
The Senate has voted 33-1 in favor of SB 1191, a “trailer” bill to SB 1108, the bill that makes it tougher to qualify initiatives or referendum measures for the Idaho ballot. Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, said the idea behind the trailer bill is to…
The House Ways & Means Committee met briefly just after the House adjourned for the day, and introduced three new measures: A bipartisan resolution sponsored by House and Senate leaders honoring retiring Idaho Public Television General Manager Peter Morrill for his accomplishments; a joint memorial…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho drivers will be able to contribute to a voluntary fund to promote organ donations, following a 61-6 House vote on a measure creating an organ donation fund. Monday's vote sends the bill…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — House Speaker Scott Bedke is doing everything possible to adjourn the 2013 Legislature by Friday. Bedke told Republican committee chair persons and Democratic leadership Monday this target doesn't mean quitting if there are…
The Senate has voted down a motion from Sen. Les Bock, D-Boise, to send SB 1150 to the 14th Order for amendments. The bill deals with appeals to district court of teacher firings or suspendsions for conduct violating certification standards; the motion failed on a…
Legislation to put the state Attorney General in charge of investigating civil or criminal law violations by county elected officials, including open meeting law violations by boards of county commissioners, has passed the House on a 62-3 vote and now heads to the governor’s desk.…
The Senate has voted unanimously in favor of HB 192, to create a special optional enhanced concealed weapons permit, requiring more training, that would be recognized by more states. After that 35-0 vote, it took up another concealed weapons bill, HB 223, which would legalized…
SB 1160, the budget for the state’s Liquor Division, has passed the House on a 36-29 vote. Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, noted that the budget includes no state general tax funds and reflects a 1.2 percent increase over this year’s level; it includes funds to…
With no debate, the House has voted 65-1 in favor of legislation to let farmers exceed weight limits by 2,000 pounds on any road other than interstate freeways; the exemption wouldn’t apply to posted bridge weights or other seasonal or temporary weight limit postings. “The…
Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, announced to the Senate this morning that the public schools budget is likely to be considered on Wednesday morning.
The House Health & Welfare Committee has been meeting since 7:30 this morning; the House has convened on the floor, but has now gone at ease to await the committee’s arrival. The panel just voted, in a divided vote, to approve an amended substitute motion…
Former longtime Idaho state chief economist Mike Ferguson argues in a new op-ed piece that the importance of a state insurance exchange is "dwarfed" by the ramifications of whether or not Idaho expands its Medicaid program, "yet we have heard almost no consideration of that…
Painful votes on the insurance exchange are now behind the Idaho Legislature, reports AP reporter John Miller and the upcoming Senate vote on cutting business personal property taxes by $20 million appears less disputed than once expected. As lawmakers prepare to adjourn this Friday, however,…
Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey reports on how a little redecorating, a promise of openness and a new assistant have helped House Speaker Scott Bedke transform a 13-by-23 space into the Capitol's most productive venue - the newly transformed speaker's outer office. The space has…
At the close of Friday morning’s joint meeting of the House and Senate Health & Welfare committees, Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, moved to send HB 309 to the floor of the House with a recommendation from both panels that it pass. But his motion was…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
