SB 1082a, which requires parental consent for minors’ abortions, passed the House this morning on a 53-14 vote, after much debate. The bill previously passed the Senate and now goes to the governor’s desk. “This is a very, very important decision in a young person’s…
Last-minute IACI legislation to enforce non-compete clauses against Idaho employees was defeated in the Senate this afternoon, after a dramatic debate that earned a rare rebuke for a senator’s use of “profanity.” Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo, loudly criticized the debate of Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise,…
North Idaho ATV riders have at least one more year to ride on paved roads following a Senate committee's vote against a bill to outlaw them on some highways. The Senate Transportation Committee voted 7-1 against HB 187, which would have required local governments to…
By unanimous consent, the House just concurred in the Senate amendments to the grocery tax increase bill, HB 81. “The amendments that came back from the Senate on the grocery tax credit bill simply bumped down the values for everybody from $50 to $40 and…
HB 249, the bill to impose a Dec. 1 deadline on negotiations between Idaho Indian tribes and the governor over fuel taxes, passed the Senate Local Government & Tax Commttee this morning on a 6-3 vote, and now heads to the full Senate. Sens. Brent…
There was a full house this afternoon for the Senate committee hearing on the tribal fuel tax bill, HB 249. But the committee barely had time to take testimony; it put off its debate and vote to tomorrow, in part because several committee members were…
Idaho teachers oppose a proposed salary plan allowing them to trade tenure for more pay and want to play a role in considering alternatives, S-R reporter Parker Howell reports, and they told lawmakers that this morning. At an informational hearing in the Gold Room on…
In a 34-34 tie vote, the Idaho House has defeated the budget bill for the state Lottery Commission. The problem? “An objection to the use of children in advertising the lottery,” according to Rep. Anne Pasley-Stuart, D-Boise, who led the opposition. “The objection is not…
What a squabble that was in JFAC this morning over GARVEE bonding. The successful plan lists out this spending, totaling $246 million, for the next round of highway bonds: - $23 million for Garwood to Sagle on U.S. Highway 95 in North Idaho - $12…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has voted unanimously to let Idaho State University proceed with its plans to purchase of the former Jabil Circuits plant in Meridian, but not to give the school $5 million for the project. Backers had brought a last-minute request for $5…
Former state Sen. Skip Brandt, R-Kooskia, who gave up his Senate seat to run unsuccessfully for Congress last year, was appointed to an opening on the Idaho County Commission today by Gov. Butch Otter. Brandt, 42, succeeds Commissioner John Schurbon, who died on Feb. 27…
Here’s Parker Howell’s report on a stop by presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the state capitol today:A solitary figure speaking from the steps of the Idaho Statehouse Tuesday, Republican presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney seemed unfazed when a sign-wielding protester shouted questions…
Gov. Butch Otter was none too pleased with the job the Senate did this morning amending the grocery tax credit bill, and, in comments to the Idaho Press Club just an hour after the Senate vote, bolstered the threats some senators had alluded to that…
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,…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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