A new version of emergency surcharge legislation to help fund Idaho's courts through the economic downturn was introduced in the House Ways & Means Committee today and sent directly to the House's 2nd Reading Calendar. It replaces HB 524a, the earlier version, which originally sought…
The House Ways & Means Committee has introduced legislation sought by Boise State University that would free state universities to follow their own purchasing policies, rather than go through both their university processes and the state's purchasing process. The University of Idaho already can do…
There were lots of questions first, particularly from Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, but the House has voted unanimously, 68-0, to pass HB 656, the Idaho Hospital Assessment Act. The negotiated bill, which will last for two years, calls for private hospitals to pay an…
The "conscience" bill on abortion, emergency contraception and end-of-life care has won final passage in the House on a 51-18 vote, but it wasn't a straight party-line vote. Democrats Branden Durst of Boise and James Ruchti of Pocatello voted in favor of the bill, along…
1st District GOP congressional candidate Vaughn Ward has announced that Lori Otter - Idaho's current first lady - and Patricia Kempthorne, a past Idaho first lady, will co-chair his "Republican Women for Ward" group, which Ward said now has more than 300 members. Said Ward,…
The Senate State Affairs Committee has passed Rep. Mike Moyle's voter I.D. bill, but only after lots of discussion and many questions from Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, who said, "I have concerns about its implementation as well as its constitutionality, and I'll be…
House and Senate Democratic leaders say the latest unemployment figures underscore the need for economic development legislation like the 10 bills their party has proposed, including six as part of their "IJOBS" package, but none of those bills has passed; just one had received a…
The Senate has given final passage to HB 533, legislation raising the fee for invasive species stickers for non-motorized or out-of-state boats by $2 apiece. The non-motorized stickers would jump from $5 to $7; out-of-staters would pay $22, up from $20. "We are asking to…
Among the additional candidates filing for office this afternoon are incumbent Lt. Gov. Brad Little, who is seeking a full term in office to which he was appointed by Gov. Butch Otter; and "Pro-Life," the frequent candidate previously known as Marvin Richardson before he legally…
Gov. Butch Otter has been quietly signing bills into law, but to date - as of the 65th day of the legislative session - he hasn't held a single public signing ceremony. He's now scheduled his first for tomorrow, for HB 391a, the "Idaho Health…
In his opening debate on a bill in the Senate this afternoon, Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, made this comment: "This portion of the bill really sucks, in my opinion." That brought an immediate objection from Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo, who makes a point of objecting…
All three proposed constitutional amendments on municipal indebtedness - for airports, publicly owned hospitals, and municipal power systems - have now passed both houses of the Legislature with more than two-thirds support, and will go on the ballot for voter approval in November. The Senate…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — House Democrats failed to narrow a bill that seeks to give health workers' permission to abstain from giving care they find morally objectionable. Democrats proposed an amendment on Tuesday to strike a provision…
Among today's candidate filings, so far, is Robert Vasquez' new bid to run against Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, in the May GOP primary. The former Canyon County commissioner, unsuccessful congressional candidate and vocal anti-illegal immigration activist makes the primary a three-way race, as GOP challenger…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A House committee will take a little more time before voting on a bill bringing the state a step closer to taxing online sales. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee decided Tuesday to…
The Senate Commerce & Human Resources Committee was so enthusiastic about HB 604 this afternoon - the bill to ban pension-padding retirement bonuses like those paid to three state employees in the past year, including the retiring state human resources director - that the panel…
Soil conservation districts from around the state set up displays in the 4th floor rotunda of the Capitol today, to show lawmakers what their districts do.
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's Land Board decision to hike cabin-site rents on Priest and Payette lakes by an average of 9 percent a year for the next five years, or 54 percent, plus impose new surcharges when the…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Senate passed the first of three constitutional amendments to allow Idaho cities and publicly-owned hospitals to sign long-term financing contracts without a vote, if no taxpayer money is pledged to repay debts.…
The charging of "premium rent" when state-owned cabin sites - on which private renters build and maintain their own cabins and other improvements - change hands is designed to recapture part of the gain in value of the premium lakefront lots for the state, rather…
The Idaho Land Board has voted 3-2 in favor of Secretary of State Ben Ysursa's motion on state-owned cabin site rents, with Ysursa, Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna and Gov. Butch Otter voting in favor, and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and state Controller Donna Jones…
Secretary of State Ben Ysursa has moved to adopt the subcommittee's recommendation - rents for state-owned cabin sites on endowment land to be set at 4 percent of the average value over the past 10 years, phased in over a five-year period, plus a premium…
Laurie Boeckel, legislative vice president of the Idaho State PTA, urged the state Land Board to keep in mind the beneficiaries of the state endowment when it makes its decision on cabin lease rents, urging the board to "act in a manner that has the…
Former Idaho Attorney General Tony Park, speaking on behalf of Payette Lake cabin owners, urged the state Land Board to go into mediation on the remaining lease issues rather than decide the issue today. "Mediation shouldn't take more than a few days," he said. Gov.…
Gov. Butch Otter, responding to cabin owners' concerns, said, "This is going to give us at least a point of beginning, and ... I'm willing to do anything to divest ourselves of these headaches (which drew laughter from the audience), these cabin leases. I never…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
