The Senate State Affairs Committee voted this morning, with one objection, to introduce a new version of "conscience" legislation from Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, that would permit any licensed health-care provider to refuse to provide a treatment, service or medication related to abortion, emergency contraception,…
Idaho's privately operated prison south of Boise, the Idaho Correctional Center, has confirmed that inmates there have contracted the Norovirus, after a flurry of stomach flu was reported there. The facility has been washed down with bleach and inmates are on lockdown; click below to…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lawmakers may exempt information on hunting and fishing licenses from public disclosure, saying they want to shield people who have bagged a wolf from unwanted attention. Rep. Judy Boyle, a Republican from Midvale,…
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred is continuing his criticism of Gov. Butch Otter for "irrational pessimism," saying, "When Otter says we have no choice but to cut education, he’s just factually wrong." Said Allred, a former Harvard professor and former head of The Common Interest…
Here's a news item from the AP: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho legislator wants to make roads safer for bicyclists. Boise Democrat Sen. Elliot Werk introduced four bills Thursday that would penalize rash bicyclists and drivers with a $75 fine. The Senate Transportation Committee…
A fee increase for invasive species stickers for boats that was rejected by the House State Affairs Committee last month got a warmer reception today from the House Resources Committee, which voted to introduce the bill. Though Dave Ricks of the state Parks Department said…
State Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, says she was stunned to learn that only 23 percent of people who use the Boise River Wildlife Management Area have hunting or fishing licenses, so she's proposing legislation to require people who enter that and other areas that would…
Livestock groups that lost a recent Idaho Supreme Court decision asked lawmakers today to come to their defense by scaling back local authority over large dairies with thousands of cows and tons of manure, the AP reports. Idaho Dairyman's Association lobbyist Ken McClure told the…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho legislature is considering making texting while driving a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in prison or a $300 fine. Caldwell Republican Sen. John McGee told the Senate Transportation Committee…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will set budget targets for both the current year and for the next fiscal year tomorrow morning, after it holds brief budget hearings on four agencies and a discussion of state employee health insurance. The budget target debate and vote is…
Senate Republicans emerged from an hour-long caucus this morning and went straight to the floor, after a discussion they said focused on the state budget. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, said the discussion covered not only the budget target that the Joint Finance-Appropriations…
At the end of the Historical Society's budget hearing this morning, Director Janet Gallimore had a couple of staffers unveil something in a case, under a black drape, that had been rolled out to the center of the JFAC hearing room. It was the original…
Idaho made a record $45 million in liquor profits this year, state Liquor Division Director Dyke Nally reported to lawmakers this morning. "It's the people's business - the people of the state of Idaho own this business, and the moneys go back to the people…
Three constitutional amendments regarding public indebtedness were introduced unanimously in the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning. All three are co-sponsored by Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, and Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston. One deals with hospital districts, one with airport authorities, and one with municipal…
A new version of amendments to the Invasive Species Act was introduced in the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee this morning, with the words "a container" removed from the definition of a "conveyance," for which Idahoans could be penalized for not stopping for inspection. "That was…
Several of the questions from lawmakers for new ITD chief Brian Ness focused on doing work in-house vs. contracting. Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, asked which way is cheaper for paving projects. Ness said if the state uses its own workers for paving, it can't…
Revenues from the state's Highway Account, which largely comes from gas taxes and vehicle registration fees, are running $1.8 million below forecast through January, ITD Director Brian Ness told JFAC. Of 1,777 bridges in the state system, 540, or 30 percent, are older than 50…
Darrell Manning, chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board, told JFAC this morning that the transportation department is working to implement the performance audit the Legislature conducted last year and the governor's executive order that followed it. "We'll try our best to be good stewards of…
After a long and fierce debate, Idaho’s top five elected officials voted 3-2 on Wednesday to give public schools an extra $22 million from state reserves next year — less than half the amount the state schools superintendent had sought. Superintendent Tom Luna, who paused…
"I'm concerned that we did leave some money on the table, but I had my day in court and it was well-vetted," state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna said after the Land Board's 3-2 vote to give schools $22 million extra from the state school…
The Land Board has voted 3-2 to approve a $22 million distribution to public schools next year, which Secretary of State Ben Ysursa said will leave two years worth of reserves. "This is a one-time request of funding," Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna said, "and…
Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna tried a substitute motion after Ysursa's, to transfer $42.3 million to schools, but that, like his first $52.8 million motion, died for lack of a second. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden then offered a substitute motion to defer any action and…
Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna moved to give schools the $52.8 million, but his motion died for lack of a second. Now Secretary of State Ben Ysursa is proposing a $22 million transfer. Gov. Butch Otter has seconded the motion.
Marilyn Howard, former state superintendent of schools, just told the Land Board, "If I were on the board today, I'd vote no." The endowment, she said, is a "sacred trust." "You've established a course - I think you should stay the course," she told the…
After a short break, the Land Board is now hearing from state Lands Director George Bacon about state timber sale earnings. Gov. Butch Otter just announced that timing-wise, though several more people remain to present, the board needs to have a motion on the table…