U.S. officials are considering extending the use of an eastern Idaho nuclear waste treatment facility beyond its scheduled closure this year so it can repackage radioactive waste brought in from Hanford and elsewhere before it's sent to a permanent disposal site in New Mexico, the AP reports. The U.S. DOE Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Plant...
A group of Idaho lawmakers are hoping to tweak a proposal banning local cities and counties from adopting residential building code provisions that are more stringent than those already approved by the state. The Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee on Tuesday agreed to send HB 547 to be amended...
None of the proposals put forth this session to change the way Idaho handles reapportionment – redrawing of legislative and congressional district lines after the once-a-decade census – are going anywhere this year, legislative leaders from both parties said today in remarks to the Idaho…
House Speaker Scott Bedke warned that addressing the state's reading test will likely be the final legislative battle of the session before lawmakers can go home for the year. Bedke told reporters on Tuesday lawmakers are still working behind the scenes on redesigning or replacing the so-called Idaho Reading Indicator, an early reading test...
The House today suspended its rules and took up HB 675, and passed it unanimously. That’s the bill that just emerged from the Rev & Tax Committee a day earlier to increase the new child tax credit that was created in HB 463, the income...
The House has voted 57-12 in favor of SB 1313, the “stand your ground” bill. Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, the bill’s House sponsor, said, “This is so you can protect yourself, others, your property , your occupied vehicle. If you are threatened by someone, this...
The House has voted 50-18 in favor of SB 1280, Coeur d’Alene Sen. Mary Souza’s bill to move Idaho school board elections from May to November. Among those voting against the bill were House Education Chair Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree; and House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley.…
Idaho’s dry bean industry is considering dropping its proposal to ban soybeans from being grown in some parts of the state after lawmakers weren’t receptive, the Capital Press reports; instead, the Idaho Bean Commission is considering shifting its focus to exploring ways to ensure people...
A proposal that would increase reporting requirements for abortion providers is advancing at the GOP-dominated Idaho Statehouse. The bill outlines a list of abortion complications that must be reported by providers, hospitals and clinics to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. This includes complications like infection, blood clots and...
Idaho's unemployment rate in January for the fifth consecutive month remained at 3 percent. The agency says five of Idaho's major industry sectors recorded job gains of 4 percent or more compared to January 2017. Construction jobs topped that list with an increase of 8.7 percent...
The higher education budget passed the Senate on Monday with just two “no” votes, the Lewiston Tribune reports – both from northern Idaho senators who decried the “left wing” ideology of Idaho universities. One, Sen. Dan Forman, voted against funding the biggest employer in his…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
