Every year, leather-clad motorcyclists come to the Capitol to lobby for motorcycle rights, including a bill to forbid “motorcycle profiling” – and this year, the measure’s been introduced. Rep. Robert Anderst, R-Nampa, said legislation already has passed in Washington and in Maryland; his bill doesn’t…
State auditors say Idaho's child welfare system is overwhelmed, with too few foster parents, too heavy caseloads for social workers and not enough infrastructure to hold it all together. The study from the Legislature's Office of Performance Evaluations found that the number of foster parents has decreased by 8 percent since 2014, while social...
All the testimony in the House Judiciary Committee today on HB 97, a measure to re-impose the same rule for when attorney fees should be awarded in civil cases that Idaho’s had for the past 38 years, was in favor of the bill, and it…
Two award-winning Idaho science teachers are urging lawmakers to approve a new slate of science standards that are designed to encourage students to behave like scientists, Idaho EdNews reports. Because of a mix-up involving the day’s agenda, the House Education Committee took no action on...
On a unanimous, 70-0 vote, the House has endorsed legislation to dump a $75 per year surcharge on gas hybrid cars, like the Toyota Prius, that lawmakers enacted two years ago. The fee would remain in place for plug-in hybrids; the bill also wouldn’t change…
The House has voted overwhelmingly against HB 28 to ban the Idaho Lottery’s electronic touch-tab machines, killing it on an 18-52 vote. Rep. Steven Harris, R-Meridian, the bill’s sponsor, told the House that on a recent visit to a local tavern with other lawmakers...
Gov. Butch Otter commented on refugees and religion, Idaho’s health care coverage gap, the need for transparency in Idaho’s oil and gas regulations, faith healing, Idaho Fish & Game fee increase legislation and more during his address to the Idaho Press Club this morning. Here…
Gov. Butch Otter had a lot to say this morning at his annual on-the-record Q-and-A session with the Idaho Press Club, including some comments about the legislation that’s up for debate in the House today to outlaw the Idaho Lottery’s electronic touch-tab vending machines –...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
