Idaho's House Democrats have released some of their personal financial information after a legislative committee recently refused to consider legislation requiring elected officials disclose their financial assets. Ten of the 11 House Democrats on Monday voluntarily publicized information about their employer, occupation and sources...
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little have hit the road to promote their executive order asking Idaho insurers to offer cheaper plans that don’t comply with all requirements of the Affordable Care Act, making stops Monday in Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene. The…
Idaho is the only state that provides no legal protections for breastfeeding mothers, either in public or private, Rep. Paul Amador, R-Coeur d’Alene, told the House Judiciary Committee this afternoon, as he presented legislation to exempt breastfeeding mothers from Idaho’s indecent exposure law. The committee...
An Idaho Senate panel has introduced legislation requiring the state to provide information to women that medication-induced abortions can be halted after taking just one of two pills. If approved, women would be given a list of providers who can offer consultations about medical abortion interventions...
Gov. Butch Otter has named Twin Falls attorney Ben Cluff to the 5th District judgeship that was left vacant by Judge Richard Bevan’s appointment to the Idaho Supreme Court. An attorney in private practice in Twin Falls, Cluff holds a law degree from the University...
Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, brought new legislation to the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning to amend last year’s bill on short-term vacation rentals, which sought to forbid Idaho communities from banning them, while also setting up a taxing mechanism. Nate said, “The new…
Friday was the deadline to file personal bills in the Idaho House, and more than a dozen were submitted, with all but three of them sponsored by outspoken Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard. All personal bills in the House are referred to the House Ways &...
After 40 minutes of debate, the House State Affairs Committee voted 14-1 this morning to introduce “stand your ground” legislation proposed by Rep. Christy Zito, R-Hammett, though numerous committee members had questions about the bill’s wording and how it would work. “I think it’s appropriate…
Idaho is down to 34 children in its “expanded access” program that’s currently treating children with severe, intractable epilepsy with a commercial version of CBD oil through a drug trial. Elke Shaw-Tulloch, administrator of the Division of Public Health Services in the state Department of...
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Idaho youth, according to Elke Shaw-Tulloch, administrator of the Division of Public Health Services, which had its budget hearing before lawmakers this morning. From 2012 to 2016, Shaw-Tulloch said, Idaho lost 105 school-age children, aged 6-18, to…
JFAC is opening a week of budget hearings on Health & Welfare related issues, with hearings Monday, Wednesday and Friday focusing on the budget for the Department of Health & Welfare, which currently has a budget of $706.1 million in state general funds, and $2.86…
Three Republican leaders who challenged Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's grocery tax veto last summer recently were disinvited to the weekly meetings he holds with the majority leadership team each session. However, after push-back from the speaker and pro tem, Otter reversed course...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
