State tax revenues came in $13.8 million above forecasts for the month of February, 10.4 percent above; that brings general fund collections for the fiscal year to date to almost exactly on forecast, at just $0.2 million below. Year-to-date general fund receipts are 4.3 percent…
The Idaho House on Monday approved legislation aimed at speeding up natural gas and oil production by changing the industry's deadlines and decision-making process. SB 1339 would make the Idaho Department of Lands responsible for initial oil and gas decisions, while allowing the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to oversee and reverse...
Legislation to raise the fine for driving without car insurance in Idaho from $75 to $150 has passed the Senate on a 23-11 vote, after its sponsor, Sen. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, said the fine hasn’t been updated in decades, and it’s now so low that…
The Senate, while debating SB 1338, Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll’s public lands nuisance bill this afternoon, heard arguments from both supporters and opponents of the bill that it wouldn’t actually do anything. “This bill codifies into state law what counties can already do,” Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, told...
Boise attorney James Piotrowski announced today that he’ll challenge 1st District GOP Congressman Raul Labrador. Piotrowski, a Democrat who is making his first run for office, said, “In the 1st District, we’ve got a congressman that’s not getting anything done for Idaho. He’s getting quite…
The House has voted 65-5 in favor of HB 521, legislation proposed by the Associated Students of the University of Idaho to grant “medical amnesty” from charges of underage drinking or minor-in-possession when the offense comes to light because the minor involved needs emergency medical...
Foster-care reform legislation passed the House today on a unanimous, 70-0 vote, after House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, told of a 14-month-old boy who was removed from a loving foster home, where the foster parents wanted to adopt him, and sent to an out-of-state…
Sen. Mary Souza’s “parental rights” bill has passed the Senate on a 32-2 vote, with just Sens. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, and Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, dissenting. The bill, SB 1293a, now moves to the House side. “It is imperative that we try to involve parents at…
The Senate has voted 31-3 in favor of SB 1342a, the amended version of the bill from Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, to expressly permit use of the Bible in public schools as a reference. The amendment struck references to using the Bible in “astronomy, biology,...
After a long hearing and much debate, the Senate State Affairs Committee has voted narrowly to approve SB 1350, the bill to lay out rules for Idaho delegates to an Article V constitutional convention. Sens. Davis, Winder and Stennett spoke out against the bill. Sens....
More than half an hour after the Senate was supposed to convene this morning, the Senate State Affairs Committee is still debating SB 1350, legislation to set out rules for Idaho delegates should an Article V constitutional convention be called by the states. “This is…
Idaho’s community colleges are due for an 8.7 percent increase in state funding next year, under a budget approved on an 18-2 vote this morning in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. The budget, at $36.9 million in state funds, is slightly below Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation,…
Rep. Eric Redman, R-Post Falls, persuaded the House State Affairs Committee to introduce one of two bills he proposed this morning, this one to allow parents to designate another family, after vetting by a non-profit, to care for their children while the parents are unable…
Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, has introduced a new version of his legislation to allow Idahoans to carry concealed guns without a permit, with several changes. McKenzie said he and other members of the Senate State Affairs Committee have been deluged with email complaining about an…
Legislative budget writers have set a budget for the state’s four-year colleges and universities – Boise State University, the University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Lewis-Clark State College – that reflects an 8 percent increase in state funding, slightly below the governor’s proposed 8.8…
Higher ed budgets are up in JFAC this morning, with both the budgets for state colleges and universities and for community colleges scheduled to be set. Gov. Butch Otter is recommending an 8.8 percent increase in state funding for colleges and universities, and 9.6 percent…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
