An Idaho Senate committee has introduced two bills that would broaden the definition of some sex crimes to include crimes committed with the intent of degrading or humiliating someone. Idaho Deputy Attorney General Paul Panther told the Senate Judiciary and Rules committee on Monday that both the state's current statute on sexual battery...
Idaho Republican lawmakers on Monday delayed the confirmation of Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's Democratic nominee for a water board position over what were described as politically charged Facebook posts. Sen. Clifford Bayer, a Republican from Meridian, said he wanted more time to talk to former House Minority Leader John Rusche — a Democrat from...
An Idaho House panel has introduced a proposal requiring the heads of three state agencies to serve at the pleasure of the governor rather than their respective boards of directors. Currently, the directors for the Idaho Department of Correction, Department of Parks and Recreation and Idaho Transportation Department...
More than a dozen GOP lawmakers, including two senators, held a news conference today in the Capitol to announce that they’re forming a “Regulatory Reform Joint Subcommittee” to examine the rules and regulations of state licensing boards and look for ways to streamline them. The…
Idaho’s state Liquor Division is again requesting to add two new state liquor stores in the Treasure Valley – a request the division made and Gov. Butch Otter recommended last year, but lawmakers rejected. “Idaho is the fastest growing state in the country,” division Director...
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee has voted along party lines to approve HB 463, the governor's tax-cut bill; just the panel's two minority Democrats, Reps. Mat Erpelding and John Gannon, both of Boise, voted against the motion. The bill now moves to the full...
Public testimony has concluded, and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, the lead sponsor of HB 463, the governor’s tax-cut bill, told the House Revenue & Taxation Committee, “I’m hoping that we can focus on this bill. .. This bill lowers taxes for everybody that pays...
Here’s more of this morning’s testimony on HB 463, the tax-cut bill: Julia Page, a board member of the Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, spoke against the bill. “It uses the leverage of the must-pass conformity bill to introduce several tax cuts that we believe...
Here’s some of the testimony thus far from this morning’s hearing on HB 463, the governor’s tax-cut bill: Darcy James of the Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger, said, “We are in opposition to the bill as it stands. We respectfully suggest that it has too…
“You’re going to hear grousing,” House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, told the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning as he presented HB 463, the governor and GOP legislative leaders’ tax-cut bill. The committee is hearing testimony for and against the bill this morning;...
The budget request for the Idaho Transportation Department for next year includes a request to replace one of the airplanes in the state’s three-plane fleet, a 45-year-old Cessna 182, “replacing an aging 45-year-old single prop airplane with a modern aircraft that will be safer for...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
