Bill to keep city of Boise from regulating Uber wins bipartisan backing in House

Emergency legislation to override the city of Boise’s ability to regulate Uber and other ride-sharing services passed the House today on a 56-12 vote; HB 262 now moves to the Senate side. The bill, proposed by a lobbyist for Uber, which has been battling with the city of Boise over regulations, creates a new section of state law regulating “transportation network company” services, requiring that the cars can’t be hailed on the street and can only be arranged for online; companies shall have “zero tolerance” for drug or alcohol use by drivers; companies must do their own background checks on drivers; and they must comply with insurance laws. “No municipality or other local entity may impose a tax on, or require a license for, a TNC, a TNC driver, or a vehicle used by a TNC driver,” the bill says. It also includes an emergency clause, making it effective immediately upon passage.

House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, told the House, “This appears to be an aggressive usurpation of the role of cities or counties,” but it passed easily. Here are the 12 “no” votes: Reps. Chew, Erpelding, Gannon, Hartgen, Jordan, Kloc, Nye, Pence, Rubel, Rusche, Smith and Wintrow. Among those voting in favor of the bill were Boise Democrats Phylis King and John McCrostie, Boise Republicans Thomas Dayley, Patrick McDonald and Lynn Luker, and Lewiston Democrat Dan Rudolph.