Otter signs first bills
Gov. Butch Otter has signed his first batch of bills – and they include HB 29, the $1.7 million supplemental appropriation to finish renovating the old Ada County Courthouse to house the next two – or three – legislative sessions while the capitol is renovated. Ironically, the capitol renovation was also the issue that prompted a big clash between Otter and lawmakers in his first month in office. Other bills signed into law in the governor’s first batch include measures to pay the bills for fighting last summer’s wildfires (SB 1034) and a bill clarifying shorthand court reporter certification rules.