Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, brought new legislation to the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning to amend last year’s bill on short-term vacation rentals, which sought to forbid Idaho communities from banning them, while also setting up a taxing mechanism. Nate said, “The new law has worked very well,” but said, “However, some, or at least one, community has read the language of the bill and has found a way to prohibit short-term rentals despite the language.”

Asked by House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, which community he was referring to, Nate said, “I am in a pickle on this one – it is my own community, it is Rexburg. And I have community members on both sides, and I just want to get it cleared up so we can all be clear on what the language is.”

Nate’s new bill makes several wording changes to last year’s bill, HB 216, in an attempt to short-circuit the city of Rexburg’s legal reading of it. The committee voted to introduce the new bill, clearing the way for a full hearing.