The Idaho Senate has voted unanimously in favor of the justice reinvestment bill, sending it to the House side. The 35-0 vote on SB 1357 followed enthusiastic debate in favor of the measure, which would invest in reforms to the state’s probation and parole system…
Forty-six "Add the Words" protesters, including one juvenile, one man in a wheelchair, and three others who use walkers or other assistive devices to get around, were arrested this afternoon after blockading the Senate garden-level hallway that leads to all Senate committee hearing rooms, closing…
Arrests of "Add the Words" protesters are under way in the Senate garden level hallway. Idaho State Police troopers are leading the protesters quietly, in small groups, to a ground-floor Capitol visitors room for processing, as they did during the last protest that resulted in…
Two Senate committee meetings that had been scheduled for 1:30 today have been canceled, the Commerce Committee meeting and the Transportation Committee meeting. Both had started to assemble in House committee hearing rooms because their regular Senate meeting rooms were blocked by an "Add the…
The Senate Commerce Committee has temporarily relocated to room EW 20, and the Senate Transportation Committee to Room EW 40, but neither meeting has been called to order. Among the reasons: The chairmen of both panels are blockaded in their offices by "Add the Words"…
“Add the Words” protesters are blockading the Senate garden-level hallway where committee hearing rooms are located, blocking access at both ends plus standing outside the hearing rooms themselves. Senators, lobbyists, and people waiting to attend afternoon committee hearings – including citizen activists hoping to testify…
Despite the rain, roughly 230 college students, faculty members and supporters gathered on the Statehouse steps during the noon hour to rally against SB 1254, the guns-on-campus bill, while a knot of about 20 counter-protesters stood off to one side and tried to out-shout them.…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Unsuspecting spouses saddled with tax liabilities from their former significant others are about to get a break. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee agreed unanimously Thursday it's unfair to require people who signed…
Legislation to impose felony penalties on patients who violently attack health care workers has passed the Senate, 27-8. A similar bill died in the Senate last year on a 17-17 tied vote after passing the House; this year’s bill, put forth by the Idaho Medical…
The House has voted 62-7 in favor of HB 514, legislation to remove state lawmakers' and other elected officials' special exemption from having to have a concealed weapons permit to carry a hidden gun. "We don't stand above our citizens," said Rep. Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa.…
After a lengthy “sheepherder’s” retelling of Idaho history from Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, the Senate, like the House before it, has voted unanimously in favor of HB 378, legislation from Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, to establish a new “Idaho Day” holiday each year on…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's top Democratic lawmakers have asked the FBI to investigate private prison company Corrections Corporation of America for possible criminal wrongdoing at the state's largest prison. The letter sent to Boise FBI Agent…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has approved HB 548, Majority Leader Mike Moyle’s $126 million tax cut bill, after voting down motions both to hold the bill and to amend it. Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, proposed amendments, saying if the goal is really to…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee is holding its hearing this morning on HB 548, House Majority Leader Mike Moyle’s bill to cut state individual and corporate income tax rates, in all brackets, by a tenth of a percent each year for the next six…
Opponents of SB 1254, the guns-on-campus bill, are planning a big Statehouse rally today at 12:30 in front of the Capitol. Boise State University Student Body President Bryan Vlok said, “There isn’t one major stakeholder in Idaho who supports SB 1254. From the Idaho State…
The House Ways & Means Committee, the leadership panel that often plays a late-session role in swiftly moving legislation, has scheduled its first meeting of the year for this afternoon, either at 1:30 or on adjournment of the House. The agenda includes possible introduction of…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
