The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has voted unanimously in favor of Rep. Mike Moyle’s bill to increase the new child tax credit that was created by the earlier tax-cut bill, HB 463, to relieve the burden on large Idaho families who otherwise would see…
The latest version of an anti-trespassing bill in the Idaho Legislature is raising new questions, the Idaho Statesman reports, about the interplay between it and "stand your ground" legislation that already has passed the Senate...
An Idaho state lawmaker urges her constituents to submit entries for her "fake news awards." The Kentucky governor tweets #FAKENEWS to dismiss questions about his purchase of a home from a supporter. An aide to the Texas land commissioner uses the phrase to downplay the significance of his boss receiving donations from employees of a company...
Eight days after a stunned Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney said lawmakers had “gutted” his budget, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee did a re-do, and relented on providing $1.2 million in one-time funds next year for an elections system technological upgrade; there’s more in my…
Joe Palmer’s having a smile Remote-control fart machine style And what a success Let’s embarrass the press! House dignity? That’s sunk a mile. Some context here: I wasn’t on the floor last week when a remote-control fart machine was placed under the press desk, but...
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television, BSU professor emeritus Jim Weatherby discusses voter engagement in Idaho with producer Seth Ogilvie; host Melissa Davlin interviews Sen. Abby Lee about foster care in Idaho; Ogilvie interviews Reps. Judy Boyle and Patrick McDonald and Sen. Cherie…
Idaho’s May primary ballot will be a crowded one, with an array of contested races from governor and Congress to North Idaho legislative seats; the filing deadline is just 10 minutes away at this point. Outside the Idaho Secretary of State’s office, former House Minority...
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has issued this statement on the Trump Administration’s letter yesterday notifying Idaho that its proposed “state-based” health insurance plans violate federal law and threatening enforcement action: “Contrary to news media interpretations, the letter from CMS Administrator Verma was not a rejection...
Legislative budget writers today, in the final agency budget to be set this year, approved $400,000 in state general funds next year for the Wolf Depredation Control Board to use to contract to have problem wolves exterminated. Gov. Butch Otter had proposed that the funding…
Legislation to beef up Idaho’s laws on violent threats against schools and add possible felony charges has passed the House on a 54-12 vote after much debate. Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, said the bill originated with the state’s office of school safety and security...
A vote is expected next week on a sweeping bill crafted by Sen. Mike Crapo, legislation that would overhaul financial regulations created after the 2008 financial crisis, the Post Register reports. The bill has rare marks of bipartisanship during a period of intense party division in Washington, and it could mean lighter regulatory burdens...
In a series of unanimous votes this morning, legislative budget writers finished budget-setting for the giant state Department of Health & Welfare, setting budgets for the divisions of indirect support services, independent councils, licensing and certification and healthcare policy initiatives. Extensive review by a working...
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee did a re-do on the Idaho Secretary of State’s budget today, and relented on providing $1.2 million in one-time funds next year for an elections system technological upgrade, which Denney said is needed to launch a new statewide, online, searchable campaign…
New legislation to increase the Idaho Child Tax Credit contained in the earlier House- and Senate-passed tax cut bill from $130 per child to $205 per child – at an estimated cost of $25 million a year – was introduced in the House Revenue &…
The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee has endorsed HB 578, Rep. Lance Clow’s legislation to require many remote or internet businesses to collect and remit Idaho sales taxes on their sales to Idahoans. “I just think this is long overdue,” Clow told the senators.…
The Trump Administration this afternoon sent a letter to Idaho Gov. Butch Otter turning thumbs-down on his proposal to allow the sale of health insurance plans in Idaho that aren't compliant with the Affordable Care Act. Jon Hanian, Otter's press secretary, said the governor just received the letter and is reviewing...
Twice-amended legislation from Sen. Mark Nye to provide legal immunity to people who break into hot cars to rescue dogs has died on a 17-18 vote in the Senate, while his bill to protect those who break into hot cars to rescue kids or other...
The Idaho Senate has voted 34-1 in favor of legislation to change the current practice in which victims of sexual assault have their health insurance charged for the cost of forensic exams to gather evidence of the crime from their bodies. “The forensic examination is...
The House has voted 65-3 in favor of Rep. Lance Clow’s resolution declaring pornography a “public health hazard. Clow said, “This resolution is addressing what is becoming a health hazard across the country and the state, that has to do with the proliferation of pornography.”…
The House State Affairs Committee has voted 12-3 in favor of SB 1313, Sen. Todd Lakey’s “stand your ground” self-defense law. The only “no” votes came from Reps. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird; Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello; and acting Rep. George Tway, who is filling in for…
It was nearly 7 p.m. in Boise when the House Judiciary Committee this evening finally voted 11-6 in favor of HB 581, the bipartisan bill sponsored by Reps. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, and Christy Perry, R-Nampa, to allow Idaho judges to vary from current mandatory minimum...
The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved SB 1341, the Foster Care Improvement Act, and sent it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it “do pass,” the Twin Falls Times-News reports. The bill would codify the common judicial practice of keeping siblings together whenever...
A bill backed by Idaho's top schools chief to develop a new rural schools network has once again failed to clear the Legislature. For the third year in a row, the AP reports, state lawmakers on Wednesday blocked a proposal to form a three-year pilot project in which rural schools would collaborate and share resources. The pilot project...
Idaho House members on Wednesday signaled they have little desire this year to consider legislation that would provide low-income women access to key health and family planning services. Lawmakers agreed without debate or discussion to delay voting on the Democratic-backed measure until March 21, the AP reports...
Idaho’s state tax revenues in February came in a whopping 36.3 percent ahead of forecasts, or $44.3 million ahead – marking the fourth consecutive month that general fund receipts have exceeded forecasts. Receipts have been ahead of forecasts every month so far this fiscal year...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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