The Senate has just gone into its 14th Order to consider amendments, and there are two amendments up for HB 81, the grocery tax bill. One is from Sens. Russ Fulcher and Brent Hill, to just adjust the amount of the increase in the grocery…
The commander of U.S. forces in Japan is an Idahoan, and today he made several presentations to lawmakers at the state capitol. Here’s S-R reporter Parker Howell’s report:Idaho native Lt. Gen. Bruce "Orville" Wright, commander of U.S. military forces in Japan, praised cooperation between the…
Editorial writer Tom Henderson of the Lewiston Tribune had this line in an editorial today: “And here you probably thought Idaho already had an official language. Judging from the Legislature, you probably thought it was gibberish.”
The Idaho House has voted to back a non-binding memorial to Congress opposing an international pact with Mexico and Canada. Here’s Parker Howell’s report:The United States should withdraw from an international pact with Canada and Mexico because it would be a road to security risks…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has set the budget for the Idaho Transportation Department, the last remaining state agency budget to be set – but has delayed a decision on GARVEE bonding. Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said the joint committee hopes to get to…
Even after lawmakers last year raised the homeowner's exemption for the first time in a quarter-century, owners of residential property are continuing to pick up a bigger and bigger share of Idaho's property tax burden, while the share for other types of property – businesses,…
The House has voted 47-20 to pass HB 245a, the bill sponsored by the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry to phase in a $100 million property tax break for businesses by eliminating the personal property tax on business equipment. The bill now moves to…
The House on Thursday voted unanimously – with no debate – to pass HB 187 to ban all-terrain vehicles from paved city and county roads unless local governments pass rules allowing them, a measure strongly opposed by Panhandle ATV riders and sheriffs. Read Parker Howell’s…
State education officials should help equip parents to tutor their young children rather than offer state-funded preschool, according to a resolution the House passed on a 48-19 vote Thursday. Read Parker Howell’s full story here in today’s Spokesman-Review.
Gov. Butch Otter had been scheduled to appear on Idaho Public TV’s “Idaho Reports” this Friday night and take calls from the public in a live broadcast, but he’s canceled due to illness. His office reported that Otter may have bronchitis, and is canceling all…
The House is in its amending order now, amending HB 245, the bill from IACI to phase in the elimination of the personal property tax on business equipment. Democrats offered an amendment to trim the business tax cut back to just its first year –…
The Senate has now dissolved its Committee of the Whole Senate without successfully approving any amendments to the grocery tax bill, HB 81, but the bill remains on the amending order. When formally reporting to the Senate the progress of the Committee of the Whole,…
The Senate is in its 14th Order, debating possible amendments to HB 81, the grocery tax credit increase bill. Five possible amendments were filed, but Sen. David Langhorst, D-Boise, withdrew one as the debate began, saying, “We have worked to achieve a compromise.”The amendments range…
Idaho State University is asking for $5 million for a project in Meridian, where the university wants to buy and renovate part of the former Jabil Circuits plant, which is now owned by the Meridian School District. Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, said the facility would…
Legislation from Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, to force counties to return surplus proceeds to owners when it auctions off properties for unpaid taxes died in a Senate committee on Wednesday, after earlier passing the House 43-26. Read Parker Howell’s full story here in today’s Spokesman-Review.
The Idaho Senate has voted 20-15 in favor of SB 1172, declaring English to be the official language of the state of Idaho, in a debate that took a personal turn. “It’s not for shutting people out, but bringing people in,” Sen. Mel Richardson, R-Idaho…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee, after hearings that stretched for two days, has voted 11-7 against legislation to allow a local option sales tax to fund public transit, reports S-R reporter Parker Howell. The bill was heavily backed by Treasure Valley interests, because the…
Rep. Scott Bedke was telling the Idaho Press Club a story about how well lawmakers and Gov. Butch Otter get along, by remembering a time several found the governor in his office in the early morning and came in to visit. “We went in and…
House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, and Senate President Pro Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, announced today that they’ll be introducing legislation later this week to set up an “alternative teacher compensation model” in Idaho, though they won’t push for the bill to pass…
It seems that no legislative session goes by without the creation of at least one more special license plate. Today, the Senate voted 24-11 for a new “Support Our Troops” plate to benefit Support Our Troops Inc., a charitable organization that’s organized in all 50…
Jeff Siddoway sells hunting trips for "monster elk" on his private eastern Idaho ranch. He's also a Republican state senator, reports AP reporter John Miller. So when Siddoway helped kill a bill to outlaw "shooter-bull" operations – there are 17 in Idaho, including his –…
The Idaho Supreme Court has issued its long-awaited water ruling, and it reversed the lower court, which had declared unconstitutional Idaho’s rules for “conjunctive management” of surface and groundwater. Instead, the high court upheld those rules, plus settled various related questions. “The resolution of those…
House pages have decided to officially move St. Patrick’s Day from its usual March 17th date, which falls on a Saturday this year, to Friday the 16th – at least for the House. House members were just warned that members who don’t wear green on…
The Idaho House has just wrapped up a rambling debate and killed HCR 18 on early learning standards. Check out this report from S-R reporter Parker Howell:The House rejected a nonbinding resolution asking state agencies to develop learning standards for young children and to create…
It was looking like two major issues – amendments to the grocery tax credit bill in the Senate, and debate on a big property tax break for business in the House – were shaping up to happen at the same time today, but now neither…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
