Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho State Lottery would no longer be exempt from the state's contracting laws under a new bill introduced to an Idaho House committee. Rep. Tom Loertscher, chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, said Wednesday that he was troubled to learn earlier this year that the lottery was asking potential vendors to provide information on how they offer Keno, simulated racing, fantasy sports and other illegal gambling games while bidding lucrative decade-long contract. The lottery's request — including asking for information on games like Keno, which is specifically banned by the Idaho Constitution — upset some lawmakers, who said the bid was inappropriate. Loertscher says his proposal would require the lottery to follow state laws in major procurement projects. The House State Affairs introduced the bill Wednesday. It must now clear a full legislative hearing.

Loertscher’s bill also adds a requirement that any major procurements by the state lottery must be “in conformance with the constitution and laws of the state of Idaho.”

“What this … does is just make sure that we understand that any major procurement that’s undertaken by the lottery is then required to comply with the constitution and the law,” Loertscher said. “That’s all this does, it’s pretty straightforward. We just want to make sure we’re not advertising or wanting bids on products that are not legal in any way, shape or form in the state of Idaho.”

Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, said he appreciated Loertscher bringing the bill forward, because Crane served on an interim committee on state procurement laws over the summer, and lawmakers on the panel were surprised to learn the lottery was exempt. He said when they asked why, the only answer they got was “because it was political, it was all political.” Crane said, “It’s reasonable that they have to follow the procurement statute.”