Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the complicated legislation Idaho House GOP leaders introduced today to make big changes in Idaho’s tax system – lowering the top income tax rate, removing the sales tax from groceries, and raising the gas tax…
The Senate has voted 23-11 in favor of HB 262, the Uber bill, sending the measure to the governor’s desk. The bill, which bans local regulation of Uber and instead imposes state requirements – but not oversight by any entity – was proposed by a...
Idaho Rep. Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins, whose campaign website was taken over and turned into a resource site for LGBT youth, told Idaho Public TV reporter Melissa Davlin today that he views gay people the same way he views slave owners. “They (slave owners) weren’t terrible…
The Idaho Sheriff’s Association says it’s discovered a problem in the House-passed concealed carry bill HB 301: As written the bill would let violent criminals who’ve either gotten withheld judgments, like those sentenced to the rider program, or completed their sentence and gotten their civil…
The Senate Education Committee has voted unanimously in favor of HB 296, the career ladder teacher pay bill, sending it to the full Senate for a final vote. “Particularly with the news today that Idaho has dropped to 49th in the teacher pay rankings, we…
Big news today about Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. Army sergeant who was held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan for five years after he left his Army post: He’s been charged by the U.S. military with desertion and “misbehavior before the enemy,” and could get…
The House has voted 62-3 in favor of HB 286, legislation from Majority Leader Mike Moyle and the Idaho Department of Commerce to greatly expand property tax breaks that county commissioners can give out for business expansions. Currently, the tax break is only for new…
Ilah Hickman The Senate Resources Committee has voted unanimously in favor of HB 1, the bill to designate the Idaho giant salamander as the state amphibian. The sponsor, 14-year-old Ilah Hickman – who’s pushed for the bill for the past five years – skipped her...
Idaho’s average teacher pay dropped by more than $200 a year from 2012-13 to 2013-14, Idaho Education News reports; the news comes as a Senate committee prepares to hear legislation this afternoon on a five-year plan to boost Idaho’s teacher pay. EdNews reporter Kevin Richert…
In an unusual move today, House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, asked to delay another day on the vote on SB 1011, the bill to repeal “instant racing,” and the bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, objected. That forced Moyle to make…
The Senate State Affairs Committee today sent HB 155, Rep. Linden Bateman’s bill to increase fines for violations of the Idaho Open Meeting Law, to the Senate’s 14th Order for amendments. Several senators on the panel raised questions about some of the bill’s wording, in...
Complicated legislation to make big changes in Idaho’s tax system – lowering the top income tax brackets to 6.7 percent from the current 7.4 percent, while keeping lower brackets the same as they are now; removing the sales tax from groceries while eliminating the current…
Two new transportation bills were introduced in the House Ways & Means Committee this morning. One, from Rep. Jason Monks and House Transportation Chairman Joe Palmer, would make two funding shifts: Remove the Idaho State Police from funding by the state highway distribution account, which…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
