The Senate has voted 23-11 in favor of HB 262, the Uber bill, sending the measure to the governor’s desk. The bill, which bans local regulation of Uber and instead imposes state requirements – but not oversight by any entity – was proposed by a lobbyist for the ride-sharing company after Uber and the city of Boise disagreed over regulations for the service. The Association of Idaho Cities and the city of Coeur d’Alene also opposed the bill. But Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, was its Senate sponsor, and Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, who represents the city, voted in favor of the bill.

“We do believe in local control, so I hope you don’t think by supporting this legislation we’re taking local control away,” Nonini told the Senate. “We’re just trying to open up a new model of transportation.” He said, “I think because it’s a new model and a new concept that we’re not used to, we’re being a little gun-shy, and we shouldn’t be gun-shy.” Nonini also said that the background checks that Uber does on its drivers are “much more secure” than those that cities would require.

Sen. Maryanne Jordan, D-Boise, the president of the Boise City Council, spoke passionately against the bill. “Cities all over the country are struggling with this,” she told the Senate. “Nowhere in the bill is a framework established for regulating companies or providing a complaint mechanism for consumers. ... We have questions about where in Idaho a complaint might go.” Sen. Roy Lacey, D-Pocatello, said, “I’ve looked over the bill again, and it says there’s no fiscal impact, there’s zero fiscal impact. And that’s because there is no oversight in this bill. There is no agency that is going to be making sure all the provisions are being done.”

The bill includes an emergency clause, making it effectively immediately if the governor signs it into law; it previously passed the House, and now heads to the governor’s desk.