Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, today introduced legislation to allow courts to impose a time limit on redistricting appeals; under current law, legal challenges can be filed even years after redistricting plans have taken effect. "The purpose is to allow the court to…
The Idaho Democratic Party has issued a news release blasting GOP legislative leaders for backing off on ethics reforms including an independent ethics commission this year. "If meaningful ethics reform became a GOP priority, then they would figure out a way to get it done,"…
Three groups that say they've been "inundated" with phone calls and e-mails opposing SB 1349, the bill to require Idaho women to undergo an ultrasound before they could have an abortion, have scheduled a rally for noon tomorrow on the Statehouse steps. "Forcing women to…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State prison officials say a report on health care and other conditions at an Idaho prison is so inflammatory that it must remain sealed. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill appointed a correctional…
The Senate Education Committee has approved legislation from House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, to remove the expiration date from a program that allows school districts to rehire retired teachers or administrators full-time, the Associated Press reports. The Senate Education Committee sent the House-passed…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A departing senator is hoping to make a lasting impact with a bill to bolster anti-bullying efforts in Idaho public schools. The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee Wednesday voted 5-4 to advance the…
The House Business Committee has voted 14-3 along party lines to pass HCR 45, a resolution from Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, declaring that if Idaho health insurance companies want a health insurance exchange, they should start and fund one themselves. "I think the resolution…
Idaho's state tax revenue figures are in for February, and they came in $19.5 million ahead of projections. For the fiscal year to date, that puts revenues $32.7 million ahead of projections. Wayne Hammon, Gov. Butch Otter's budget chief, sounded a note of caution, however.…
The House has voted 59-9 in favor of SB 1333, sending the bill to the governor's desk; it appropriates $200,000 in state general tax funds for the Idaho Secretary of State's office to conduct a voter-information campaign about the state's new closed primary election law,…
The budget for the state Department of Administration includes a 106.5 percent increase in state general funds next year, largely because of $1.9 million in state funds for the Idaho Education Network; the network also would receive $1.4 million from dedicated funds, including federal grants…
For the Division of Child Welfare, JFAC has approved the governor's recommendation, which reflects a 0.7 percent increase in state general funds, and a 3.7 percent increase in total funds due to an increase in the federal matching fund rate. The division's request to increase…
A budget for the Substance Abuse Treatment & Prevention Division of the state Department of Health & Welfare has cleared JFAC on an 18-2 vote, with Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, and Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, dissenting. The budget includes just a 0.9 percent increase in…
Idaho's state mental hospital in Blackfoot, State Hospital South, has seen such major staffing cuts in recent years that it's in danger of losing its accreditation, Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, a physician, told JFAC this morning, and the cuts are endangering patient and staff safety.…
JFAC has convened this morning at 10 a.m., two hours later than usual, to allow lawmakers to return from their home-county GOP presidential caucuses last night. Several divisions of the state Department of Health & Welfare are up for budget-setting this morning, starting with mental…
When all the tallying was done last night, Mitt Romney's sweep in Idaho's first GOP presidential caucus left him with all 32 delegates after winning 31 of Idaho's 44 counties. Seven counties went to Rick Santorum - Kootenai, Benewah, Clearwater, Shoshone, Owyhee, Lewis and Washington.…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
