Sen. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, says as acting chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he’s decided not to grant a hearing to SB 1005, the bill from the state Department of Correction to add additional secrecy around state execution procedures. “I talked to a number of...
Two of the three state lawmakers whose district includes the Greyhound Park Event Center in Post Falls said Monday they were surprised and disappointed that the Coeur d’Alene Tribe had canceled its big annual Julyamsh Pow Wow there this summer, amid a dispute over “instant…
Blue Cross of Idaho has hired Mike Reynoldson, government affairs manager for Micron Technology for the past 10 years, as its new director of governmental affairs. Reynoldson will oversee legislative and regulatory issues and act as a liaison to state and federal health entities for…
After a 75-minute closed-door caucus, House Republicans emerged talking transportation funding this afternoon. “We started throwing out transportation funding options,” said House Majority Caucus Chairman John Vander Woude, R-Nampa. “What’s it going to look like?” That included questions about whether a package might include a…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — An eastern Idaho family has launched an online fundraising effort to help cover the estimated $1,200 cost to access public records about the Idaho State University president's residence. Rhonda and Eric D'Amico and…
On a 12-3 party-line vote, with Democrats dissenting and Republicans voting in favor, the House State Affairs Committee today introduced legislation laying groundwork for Idaho to participate in an Article V constitutional convention aimed at considering a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The…
Idaho schools get more than 63 cents of every education dollar from the state Legislature, one of the highest percentages in the nation, Idaho Education News reports. A new federal study, based on 2011-12 numbers, shows that only three states rely more heavily on state…
Idaho’s state parks system is looking for corporate sponsors for signs, brochures, group picnic shelters and the like, as part of its effort to make the parks system largely pay for itself, state Parks Director David Langhorst told lawmakers this morning. “We would hope to...
Legislation from the state Tax Commission that would have saved the state $25,000 by requiring paid tax preparers and large companies to file state tax returns electronically has been defeated in the House on a 25-44 vote. Among those arguing against the bill was freshman...
Eighteen of Idaho’s district and appellate judges have retired since 2009, and another 34 – 63 percent – are eligible to retire in the next five years, Chief Justice Roger Burdick told lawmakers today in his annual “State of the Judiciary” message to the House...
Idaho has received 84 applications so far from throughout the nation to replace former state courts Administrative Director Patti Tobias, who left this fall to take a position with the National Center for State Courts, Chief Justice Roger Burdick told lawmakers today in his annual…
The Idaho Department of Lands received 683 public records requests in 2014, department Director Tom Schultz told lawmakers today. Of those, 42 percent drew responses within one business day. The average response time was less than three business days, which is within the Idaho Public…
As Idaho Department of Lands Director Tom Schultz presents his budget request to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning, one item he’s requesting – an additional forest stewardship position in the department’s Coeur d’Alene office – could relate to the Legislature’s ongoing push to take…
Senators quizzed two Idaho Human Rights Commission members this morning who are up for reappointment, Sheila Olsen and Ruthie Johnson. Neither was asked about the question of expanding the jurisdiction of the commission to include discrimination cases involving sexual orientation and gender identity, as proposed…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Department of Lands has auctioned off 32 more lots at Payette Lake in northern Idaho as it continues its plan to divest itself of the lucrative but difficult-to-manage assets. The agency…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A legislative panel is urging Idaho lawmakers to pursue a collaborative approach while seeking to assume control of federally managed public land. The committee approved sending their report to legislative leaders on Friday...
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 third week of the legislative session, from the education budget to “Add the Words.” The show also includes Aaron and Melissa’s interview…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The head of Idaho's horse racing regulatory agency has abruptly retired. The Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/1CTV2Jb ) reports that Frank Lamb's retirement is effectively immediately. An Idaho State Police spokeswoman declined to provide further...
House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, and Senate Education Chairman Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, told reporters this morning that they’re “excited” about where education is headed in Idaho. “I believe this is the year for education,” Mortimer said. “We are excited about where we are…
After two hours of testimony at this morning’s Health & Welfare listening session, House Health & Welfare Chairman Fred Wood, R-Burley, thanked everyone who spoke. “We understand a lot of Idahoans have gone through a tough time economically. We are coming out of that,” he…
In the first hour of this morning’s House and Senate Health & Welfare joint listening session, 17 people have testified. Nine presented serious concerns about Optum, the contractor handling behavioral health services for Idaho, including parents of seriously mentally ill children whose services have been...
Among those testifying at this morning’s Health & Welfare listening session at the state Capitol: Jessica Chilcott, a social worker from Sagle, expressed concerns about Optum, the company the state Department of Health & Welfare contracts with for behavioral health services. “A basic Google search…
There’s a substantial crowd this morning for the listening session on Health & Welfare programs. “We have both House and Senate members of our committees here, and most importantly we have many of you here who we really are excited to hear from this morning,”...
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A bill to raise hunting and fishing fees for Idaho residents for the first time since 2005 has stalled. The House Resources and Conservation Committee on Thursday voted to hold HB 32 in…
A second new specialty license plate has been proposed this session, this one an “America the Beautiful” plate that would raise funds for charitable efforts by a charity affiliated with Support Our Troops, a group that supports military families. The Senate Transportation Committee agreed to…
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