The Idaho Senate has voted unanimously in favor of HB 167a, which eliminates the exemption in the Idaho Open Meeting Law for labor negotiations. “It provides a little bit of transparency,” said Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, the bill’s Senate sponsor. He noted that the measure includes five-year sunset, to allow lawmakers to examine it; and allows some closed sessions to review or formulate contract offers in certain circumstances. “I think it’s a good bill,” McKenzie said. “It promotes openness in government, which is one thing that we should always be striving to do.”

The bill earlier passed the House unanimously; it now goes to the governor.