The Idaho Senate voted 34-0 in favor of the yoga bill today, sending HB 108 to Gov. Butch Otter’s desk. If he signs it into law, it would ensure that Idaho doesn’t stretch to regulate those training yoga teachers like for-profit vocational schools that train...
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how Coeur d’Alene Sen. Mary Souza pulled her controversial school election bill today, citing “political pressures.” The proposal, SB 1103a, sought to move school board elections to the November general election in even-numbered years –…
An Idaho Senate panel has spiked a proposal suggesting that high school students should have to pass a civics test that included at least 25 questions on the history of Idaho. Members on the Senate Education Committee said Tuesday they liked the overall concept of the bill, but couldn't sign off on...
The Idaho House has voted 53-16 in favor of HB 270, the third version of Rep. Jason Monks’ bill to ban local governments or school districts from in any way using public funds to influence the outcome of an election on a bond or levy.…
When the House briefly went at ease this morning because the Internet had gone down, preventing members from viewing bills, Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, was heard on an open mike saying, “We all know our districts. We know that there are some teachers that are...
Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, says her now-pulled school elections bill, SB 1003a, wasn’t related to the 2013 fight for control of the Coeur d’Alene school board, and was a “good bill for good reasons.” Here is her full statement: “I just want to clear…
Legislation offering sales tax incentives to data centers is headed to the Idaho Senate. House members narrowly approved the measure on Tuesday on a 35-34 vote. Officials with the Idaho Department of Commerce are backing a measure that would offer sales tax rebates to eligible server equipment...
Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, has just asked unanimous consent in the Senate to return her controversial school elections bill, SB 1103a, to committee. “The hope of this bill is to increase the low voter turnout all over the state in important school elections,” Souza...
A group of Idaho House Republicans, led by Rep. John VanderWoude, R-Nampa, announced today that they’ll introduce legislation this week aimed at improving health care in Idaho by increasing the number of family medicine residency slots; creating a loan forgiveness program to help community health...
The House State Affairs Committee today voted unanimously in favor of legislation from its chairman, Rep. Tom Loertscher, to bring state boards and councils created by executive order under the Idaho Open Meeting Law. Loertscher, R-Iona, noted that the committee’s hearing this morning was open…
In 2013, a group aligned with one slice within Kootenai County’s GOP spectrum briefly seized control of the Coeur d’Alene School Board as three conservative appointees joined two elected trustees to push the board to the right. Led by Brent Regan, a North Idaho businessman...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
