All state and local elections in Idaho would be subject to the state Sunshine Law’s requirements for public disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures, under legislation introduced this morning in the Senate State Affairs Committee. The bill, proposed by Sens. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, includes an emergency clause making it effective as soon as it’s signed into law, and includes recall election and small-school district trustee elections.

“I am bringing this to you this morning because we have had a situation in our state currently where all state candidates and ballot measures are required to disclose their campaign finances,” Souza told the committee. “But at the local level that is not the case. It is inconsistent, it’s spotty, some do and some do not. So I believe that it’s time now for equal sunshine on all of our elections, so that our voters can be informed about the influences on all levels of our elections.”

The committee voted unanimously to introduce the bill, clearing the way for a possible hearing.