The Senate has voted unanimously, 35-0, in favor of HB 301a, the big oil and gas regulation bill. “This bill comes before you at this point in the session as a compromise bill,” Sen. Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, told the House. “This is a bill where the industry is now talking to each other, and you can have a lot of confidence that the parties have come to the table and what we have in front of you is a good piece of legislation.”

Lee said, “The purpose of this bill is to protect private property owners, state endowment lands, and taxpayers by updating Idaho law in accordance with other Rocky Mountain States by improving processes, transparency, and reporting of oil and gas development.”

The measure now heads to the governor’s desk. It was amended after two days of stormy hearings in the House.