New laws go into effect today

BOISE – From today on, it’s a crime to disrupt a funeral in Idaho.

It’s also no longer legal to smoke in a bowling alley, but it’s now fine for an employee of the state Liquor Dispensary to slap a campaign bumper sticker on his car – something previously outlawed. And fees to license boats or register snowmobiles are going up today.

But the most noticeable change as a slew of state laws take effect today may be a decline in the number of carloads of young teenagers on the road. From this day on, newly licensed drivers under age 17 can have only one unrelated passenger in their car for their first six months as licensed drivers.

“I think it’s extremely smart,” said Gretchen Hecht, a Boise mother whose 15-year-old daughter, Sarah Friedman, will start driver’s education in the fall. “Heaven knows there are enough distractions out there.”

Sarah Friedman agrees. “I’ve driven in the car with some friends, and they’re kind of crazy,” she said, adding, “I like that rule. … I’m extremely easily distracted.”

The new restrictions on teen drivers in Idaho extend the supervised driving period also, during which new drivers are supervised by a parent or other licensed adult while they drive, from four months to six.

Idaho’s Legislature and governor passed 363 new laws this year, and most take effect on July 1 – today. These laws include one that declares English the official language of the state of Idaho and another that raises the maximum prison term for shooting at an occupied home or vehicle from five years to 15 years.

Here are some of the major new laws taking effect in Idaho today:

“HB 194 – Makes it a misdemeanor to maliciously and willfully disrupt a funeral or memorial service.

“SB 1032 – Raises the maximum sentence for shooting at an inhabited dwelling or vehicle from five years to 15 years, to combat “drive-by shootings.”

“HB 2 – Lets employees of the state Liquor Dispensary participate in political activities, such as donating to candidates or posting yard signs.

“HB 121 – Bans smoking in bowling alleys. Gov. Butch Otter vetoed this bill, but both houses of the Legislature overrode the veto.

“SB 1172 – Makes English the official language of Idaho.

“SB 1082a – Requires minors to get parental consent before obtaining an abortion. Previous parental consent laws had been overturned in court.

“SB 1105 – Allows an unmarried dependent to stay on a parent’s health insurance policy until age 21, or until 25 if the dependent is a full-time student. Previous law allowed that only until age 19, or 23 if a full-time student. The change is designed to reduce the number of uninsured Idahoans.

“SB 1157a – Requires people over age 18 to provide proof of legal residence in the United States before receiving any public benefit, with exceptions including emergency health care.

“HB 250 – Authorizes “STAR” financing, which stands for State Tax Anticipation Revenue financing, a process that allows a developer of a retail complex to fund transportation improvements, then be paid back from the sales taxes generated at the complex. Cabela’s in Post Falls is expected to be the first to use this new law.

“HB 200 – Increases annual boat registration fees from $13 to $20 for vessels up to 12 feet long, the first such increase since 1994. Larger vessels are charged an additional $2 per extra foot.

“SB 1118 – Increases the annual snowmobile registration fee from $21 to $31.

“SB 1119 – Adds more restrictions on teen drivers, including extending the period for a supervised instruction permit from four months to six months and limiting newly licensed drivers under age 17 to just one passenger, not counting relatives, for their first six months as licensed drivers.