Here's a link to the latest candidate filings for the upcoming election; among the 118 people filing to run for the Legislature so far is former state Sen. Stan Hawkins, R-Ucon, who filed to run for the House in District 34, where five-term Rep. Mack…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — House lawmakers' unease with an endowment trust-owned storage business in Boise shined through in a 15-1 committee vote that could force the state Department of Lands to sell the operation. The Resources Committee…
Several members of the Senate Resources Committee bristled this afternoon over suggestions that the oil and gas industry pressured Idaho counties, saying if they didn't sign on to an industry-proposed compromise, HB 464, they'd lose all local control over oil and gas drilling. Sen. Dean…
House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said he's confident that the Idaho Legislature won't let the streamlined sales tax issue drop after the legislation's failure in a House committee today. Instead, he said he'll push for an interim legislative committee or task force to…
Senate Minority Leader Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, has announced that he won't run for re-election; so have Sen. Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello, and Rep. Carlos Bilbao, R-Emmett. Malepeai, a five-term lawmaker, said of his "difficult decision," "I have cherished my time in the Idaho Senate serving the…
House and Senate Democratic leaders have issued a joint news release, decrying the introduction of three bills in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday that require an ultrasound before a woman can get an abortion, decry a federal insurance rule on contraceptive coverage, and…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho utilities today began what's likely a tough legislative fight to force small alternative power projects to hand over their renewable energy credits. Idaho Power Co., Avista Corp. and Rocky Mountain Power began…
Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, has been selected Senate majority caucus chairman, replacing former Chairman John McGee, in a contested election that ran for about 40 minutes in a closed-door Senate GOP caucus. Fulcher held that post previously, serving two years before giving it up to…
The Senate convened today, but adjourned early, at 10:35 a.m., for a majority caucus, at which Senate Republicans are holding a leadership election to fill the post vacated last week by the resignation of then-Majority Caucus Chairman John McGee of Caldwell.
After two and a half hours of testimony, nearly all of it in favor of the bill, and another half-hour of debate, the House Revenue & Taxation Committee has failed to pass any motion with regard to HB 581, the streamlined sales tax bill. House…
After two days of testimony, the House Local Government Committee voted 5-4 yesterday to kill Rep. Bob Schaefer's bill to eliminate urban renewal districts in Idaho, reports Times-News reporter Melissa Davlin; you can read her full report here. While that bill, HB 560, was dumped,…
Among those who have testified in favor of HB 581, the Internet sales tax bill, at this morning's committee hearing is Idaho Retailers Association head Pam Eaton, who gave lawmakers a big list of all the retailers in Idaho. "By not having this, what we're…
The Idaho State Police would be able to replace 10 patrol cars and four SUV's, plus a $1 million radio system conversion needed for communication with 14 Idaho counties, under a budget set this morning in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. It'd also be able to…
Last year's budget-setting for the Idaho State Liquor Division was delayed a day after the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee deadlocked over a proposal to keep some state liquor stores open later hours; the proposal eventually was approved. Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, dubbed the extension from a…
As JFAC set the budget for the state Department of Labor this morning, Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, raised concerns about the continuing inclusion in that budget of a "general fund phase-out" for the Idaho Human Rights Commission, cutting state general funds to that agency by…
Shawn Barigar, president and CEO of the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, told the House Rev & Tax Committee this morning, "There is a western wear store in Twin Falls that sells saddles. And this particular retailer has people come in the store, they…
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has opened its hearing this morning on the streamlined sales tax bill, HB 581, which would allow Idaho to tax Internet sales once Congress gives the go-ahead. Tina Wilson of Bonners Ferry was the first called to testify. "Speaking…
One hundred candidates have now filed to run for the Legislature; you can see the latest list here; it'll be updated again mid-day today and at the end of the day. Among the latest: Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, filed to run for the Senate; Sen.…
Legislation creating the new Idaho State Parks Passport program is on its way to the governor's desk; HB 446 has passed the Senate on a unanimous vote. The legislation will give Idahoans a chance to buy either a $10 annual pass or $20 two-year-pass to…
Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, spoke emotionally to the Senate of his guard dogs being killed and torn apart by wolves. "You'll find a leg over there, the backbone over here," he said, choking up, "just literally tear 'em to pieces." "I know there are some…
Senate Resources Chairman Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, opening debate on SB 1305, the wolf-kill bill, said, "Senators, this is a bill that's caused a lot of tension. We have a serious problem in the state of Idaho with depredation." He then yielded the remainder of…
The Senate has reconvened for its afternoon session, which Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis announced earlier will include SB 1305, the controversial wolf-kill bill that allows ranchers to use a variety of means, from aerial shooting to live bait, to target and shoot wolves that…
Sen. Jim Hammond, in his closing comments on SB 1274, the bill to ban texting while driving, told the House Transportation Committee that he's in full support of a proposed amendment to the bill drafted by committee Vice Chair Julie Ellsworth, R-Boise, to remove a…
Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, said she understands "there's going to be some changes suggested" to the texting-while-driving ban, SB 1274, in the section that exempts law enforcement. That clause in the bill says, "Except that texting by persons driving law enforcement, fire or emergency…
In this afternoon's House Transportation Committee hearing on SB 1274, the bill to ban texting while driving, Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene, told the panel, "It's intentionally simple so it's easily understood by the public and by law enforcement." The bill simply makes texting while…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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