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…
Chuck Lempesis, attorney for Priest Lake cabin owners, urged strongly against the Land Board's new premium rent proposal. "This will destroy the marketplace, I am telling you," Lempesis declared. "Who in their right mind would buy anything, particularly in the next year, with the word…
The state Land Board has begun the cabin-site rent issue; subcommittee Chairman Ben Ysursa, Idaho Secretary of State, noted that at its last meeting, the board voted to work toward eventually getting out of the cabin-site business, through selling or exchanging the properties. The board…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers have scheduled a hearing on Wednesday morning for a bill aimed at reforming the state's urban renewal laws, first passed 45 years ago to help cities improve blighted areas and boost…
After last month's stormy special Land Board meeting at which a divided board opted to take an additional $22 million from school endowment reserves to help Idaho's schools through next year's budget crunch, the board now has received another request, from State Hospital South, for…
It's standing-room only at the state Land Board meeting this morning, where the big item on the agenda is raising lease rates for state-owned cabin sites on Payette and Priest lakes. A Land Board subcommittee is recommending setting rents at 4 percent of the average…
The Correctional Alternative Placement Program, Idaho's newest state prison, could open July 1 rather than be delayed until September, under a plan being worked out by the Otter Administration, state Corrections Director Brent Reinke and the co-chairs of the Legislature's joint budget committee, the Associated…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
