The House has voted 50-19 in favor of SB 1072a, which would require school board candidates in districts with 500 or more students to disclose their campaign finances. When some in the House questioned if the filings would be a burden for candidates for the unpaid offices, the House sponsor, Rep. Patrick McDonald, R-Boise, said the forms are simple to complete, and said, to some laughter, that even he can do them. “The form isn’t the issue. The issue here is transparency, that’s the issue,” McDonald said. “The form is a piece of cake.”

The bill, sponsored by freshman Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, earlier passed the Senate on a 24-11 vote after the amendment exempting the smaller districts was added. Almost 90 of Idaho's 166 school districts have fewer than 500 students. The bill now goes to Gov. Butch Otter.