BSU President Bob Kustra gave his budget pitch to state lawmakers today, as did ISU President Arthur Vailas. Kustra noted the recent headline about half of Idaho’s college graduates leaving the state within four years after graduation, and said, “That’s not what we are seeing…
Idaho agriculture officials are asking state budget writers for $250,000 to help research and dispose 2,000 acres of contaminated fields in eastern Idaho. Department of Agriculture Director Celia Gould made the request Monday; the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee agreed on a unanimous vote...
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has voted 13-3 to approve the annual IRS tax conformity bill, but only after an unsuccessful move to kill the bill was launched by Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, who objected to including a change regarding same-sex married couples. This...
Idaho's state Board of Education remains committed to its “go on” goal, that Idahoans go on to further education beyond high school, board President Don Soltman told JFAC this morning. “The board set a goal in 2010 that 60 percent of all Idahoans ages 25-34...
The troubling news that Idaho’s high school graduation rates are lower than have long been thought has prompted the state Board of Education to do additional research, board President Don Soltman told JFAC this morning, to pinpoint where the problems are. “The bad news is...
Kicking off a week of education budget hearings, state Board of Education Chairman Don Soltman is addressing JFAC this morning. “Over the course of the week, you’ll be hearing from public schools, universities, the superintendent of public instruction, and education-related agencies the board oversees,” Soltman…
Gov. Butch Otter has submitted a series of revisions to his executive budget to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee today, to reflect an increased transfer to the Idaho Department of Water Resources for water projects and programs, along with a series of updates, from more savings...
Idaho lawmakers have approved a new rule aimed at bringing more consistency to state regulations regarding cottage foods, which are produced in home kitchens and sold directly to consumers. The Capital Press reports legislators voted Friday to adopt the rule that establishes what cottage foods are and exempts them from the state's food establish...
Tonight’s “Idaho Reports” rounds up the happenings of the second week of this year’s legislative session, including co-host Melissa Davlin’s interview with JFAC co-chairs Maxine Bell and Shawn Keough about the state budget; Davlin’s interview with Sen. Cherie Bucker-Webb, D-Boise, about “Add the Words” legislation;...
An Idaho judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the state seeking to improve the public defense system in Idaho. Fourth District Judge Samuel Hoagland issued his ruling Thursday. The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho sued the state in June contending that state officials have known for year...
Two bills to expand Medicaid in Idaho were introduced in the Idaho Senate on Friday, both as personal bills sponsored by Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, a physician; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. “I’ve been working for years to get Republican support,...
Unlike most surrounding states, Idaho makes the salaries paid to CEOs, top executives and board members at its non-profit health insurers a secret – the companies have to report the salaries to the state Department of Insurance, but they’re exempt from disclosure under the Idaho…
Idaho is moving ahead with plans for a fourth veterans’ home in North Idaho, but it likely will be seven to 10 years before it gets the funding approval from the Veterans Administration. “The current population right now of veterans in North Idaho is worthy...
Reps. Heather Scott and Ron Nate have released a second draft bill on “constitutional carry,” or allowing Idahoans to carry concealed guns without a permit. The new version doesn’t replace the previous version, they said; it’s just an alternative approach. “We’re going to put ‘em...
An “informal working group” of lawmakers has been convened by House Speaker Scott Bedke and Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill to consider an overhaul to the state’s public school funding formula. The group doesn’t plan to propose legislation this year; instead, it will seek legislative...
The House Judiciary Committee this afternoon split 10-7 and rejected a proposed rule from the Idaho State Police about what constitutes “actual use” of a liquor license. It matters because if the licenses aren’t in use, they can be forfeited. The panel approved another ISP…
House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, brought legislation to the House Rev & Tax Committee today to make permanent a five-year tax break lawmakers enacted in 2012 for Idaho aircraft repair businesses, a measure originally enacted at the behest of the late Rep. Frank Henderson,…
Idaho and a few surrounding states are the last places where invasive quagga and zebra mussels haven’t taken hold, Montana Rep. Mike Cuffe, R-Eurka, told the House Resources Committee this afternoon, and a group of Pacific Northwest states and Canadian provinces want to make sure...
Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, is profiled by Idaho EdNews today, which reports that the new co-chair of the Legislature’s joint budget committee and the senior member of the Idaho Senate is being targeted by a group in her district that’s more closely aligned with arch-conservative…
An Idaho Democratic lawmaker is renewing his efforts to curb the number of children who die because their parents choose faith healing and not medical assistance for religious reasons. The Times-News reports that Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, is working on a new bill after failing to get a legislative hearing for a similar proposal in 2014...
Idaho’s seven public health districts are facing a $1.27 million expense next year due to the 27th pay period on the state payroll, a quirk of the calendar that happens once every 11 years. The districts requested that the state pick up the full cost,…
A theater is suing the Idaho State Police for threatening to revoke its liquor license after the theater served alcohol while showing "Fifty Shades of Grey," saying the move violated the First Amendment. The Idaho Statesman reports Idaho law prohibits places licensed to serve alcohol from showing movies that depict sexual acts...
“You’ll notice in fiscal year 2015 there’s quite a significant decrease,” Catastrophic Health Care Fund board Chairman Roger Christensen told lawmakers on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. It’s a trend the state is welcoming; both the case load and state payments have fallen precipitously…
Of the 2,593 people who applied for help from the state’s Catastrophic Health Care Program so far in fiscal year 2016, the current year, 432 were found to be eligible for Medicaid, or 9 percent. In fiscal year 2015, of the 5,683 people who applied…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has voted unanimously this morning to introduce legislation proposed by Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, to add the new STEM Action Center to the list of educational entities to which donations qualify for a…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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