Two big fund shifts – one for $3 million from the state general fund to refuel the state Commerce Department’s “opportunity fund” to close deals with companies by funding infrastructure in Idaho; and another for $5 million for “industry sector grants” of workforce development funds...
Idaho Commerce Director Jeff Sayer started his budget pitch to lawmakers this morning by touting the achievement of Gov. Butch Otter’s “Project 60” goal, to raise Idaho’s GDP above $60 billion a year. He showed a chart showing it rising from $54 billion in 2009...
Idaho Rep. Shannon McMillan was one of 17 lawmakers who voted to kill the National Guard Youth Challenge Academy Friday, even though it's in her own legislative district, reports Bill Spence of the Lewiston Tribune. The academy in Clearwater County, in the old Pierce school,...
Stung state lawmakers are parting with the Otter Administration on the IEN mess, after a judge last week reaffirmed that the state’s $60 million contract for a broadband network that links every Idaho high school was issued illegally. The state immediately filed a notice of…
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports,” I join Jim Weatherby, Kevin Richert, and co-hosts Aaron Kunz and Melissa Davlin to discuss the events of the fifth week of the legislative session, including the Idaho Education Network developments, instant racing, and bills on guns and abortion. The show...
Legislation introduced Friday by the Idaho Sheriff’s Association would repeal a law that dates back to the 1860s and deals with jurisdiction and duels. “Every year the Sheriffs Association tasks me with trying to find obscure laws, and I think I’ve found some good ones…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Five conservation groups that contend federal officials in Idaho are violating environmental laws by killing wolves, coyotes and other wildlife to protect livestock and crops have filed a federal lawsuit. Idaho-based Western Watersheds…
The Idaho Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the state in a long-running eminent domain dispute with a developer who was trying to build a shopping center on Highway 95 north of Coeur d’Alene – and has even ordered the developer to pay some…
It may be time for Idaho to establish a gaming commission, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden told “Idaho Reports” in an interview for tonight’s program. “The question is: Do we have gaming in this state? The answer is yes, we do,” Wasden said. “Perhaps the…
A Senate committee wasn’t enthusiastic, but agreed this morning to introduce legislation proposed by Sen. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, to revamp Idaho’s concealed weapon laws. Changes include removing the current exemption from concealed-weapon permit laws for state legislators and other state and local elected officials, and…
A seasonal food-truck court across from Sandpoint’s popular summer weekend farmers’ market in Farmin Park has been unable to get a beer and wine license because state laws require a permanent building and kitchen facilities, Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint says, so she’s drafted legislation to…
House Speaker Scott Bedke issued a statement this afternoon in response to the Idaho Education Network lawsuit ruling yesterday, saying legislative leaders are working on ways to meet schools’ broadband needs this year and to reform Idaho’s procurement practices “to ensure that state contracts are…
After some debate and on divided votes, the House this morning approved two non-binding memorials to Congress, HJM 1 from Rep. Thomas Dayley, R-Boise, urging Congress to submit a Constitutional Amendment called the “regulation freedom amendment” to the states for ratification; and HJM 2, from…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho doctors performing abortions would have to obtain admitting privileges at a local hospital under a newly introduced bill. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to introduce the bill Thursday. Republican Sen.…
A Florida company announced today that it’s entering the “historical horse racing” business as a competitor to the current provider of “instant racing” games, Race Tech LLC/AmTote International. The Florida firm’s chief communications officer, Patrick Neely, noted that in the hearings this week on legislation...
The Idaho School Boards Association and the Idaho Education Association have reached agreement on two school labor-law bills that have had one-year expirations attached to them for the past two years, Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, told the Senate Education Committee this afternoon. They’re jointly co-sponsoring…
A list compiled by the Legislative Budget Office of state agencies receiving broadband and/or video conferencing services under the same Idaho Education Network contract that a court has repeatedly declared illegal shows there are 16 state agencies, plus five public health districts, and they’re paying...
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Senate Education Committee introduced a bill that would require students to pass a basic civics test to graduate from high school. Republican Sen. Jim Patrick from Twin Falls told the panel Wednesday…
Coeur d’Alene Sen. Mary Souza wants school board candidates to be subject to the same campaign finance disclosure requirements as other candidates for nonpartisan local offices, like candidates city council and community college trustee, Twin Falls Times-News reporter Nathan Brown reports today on his blog,...
Mississippi has the nation’s highest vaccination rate for kindergartners, while Idaho has one of the lowest, reports Idaho EdNews. The reason: Mississippi requires kids to be immunized to attend kindergarten, while Idaho allows broad waivers for parents based on medical, religious or philosophical grounds. All…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials have ruled invalid the first six same-sex marriage licenses issued in the state. The Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics determined the couples received the licenses before the 9th…
About 150 sportsmen, many in hunter-orange baseball caps and some in camouflage, are rallying on the Capitol steps today against any sale or transfer of public lands. “We don’t want to risk losing the places where we fill our freezers as well as our hearts,”…
When Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, today proposed sharply increasing fines for violating the Idaho Open Meeting Law, he ran into a buzz saw of opposition from Reps. Vito Barbieri, Pete Nielsen, Brent Crane and Lynn Luker. “Rep. Bateman, I’m appalled at this tenfold increase...
Both the House and Senate have observances scheduled today for Lincoln Day, in celebration of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday today. In the House, 4th graders from Riverstone Elementary School recited the Gettysburg Address; Reps. Robert Anderst and Rich Wills read the Emancipation Proclamation; Reps. Melissa…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee voted unanimously in favor of HB 75 this morning, to grant a sales tax exemption for prescription glasses and contact lenses. Several Idaho optometrists and the Idaho Retailers Association voiced support for the bill; no one spoke against it....
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Dec. 2015 | Nov. 2015 | Oct. 2015 | Sept. 2015 |
| Aug. 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 |
| April 2015 | March 2015 | Feb. 2015 | Jan. 2015 |
