House kills 125-year secrecy bill

The Idaho House balked today at legislation - which previously passed the Senate unanimously - to prevent birth records from becoming public for 125 years, rather than the current 100 years; and to prevent death records from becoming public for 100 years, rather than the current 50 years. Idaho’s vital statistics office proposed the changes as a move to deter identity theft, as people are living longer. But Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, argued that the change went too far and would hamper people who want to do family genealogical research. Though there was little debate, the House killed the bill on a 26-44 vote.