Idaho lawmakers have begun what may be the final day of their special legislative session.
Two bills and a resolution appear to still be in play.
The resolution demands Governor Little formally end the state’s five-month-old coronavirus emergency declaration. By a 48-to-20 vote, the House approved the measure on Tuesday. Supporters say the state has been ready to fully open up for quite awhile. The measure goes to the Senate, where its fate is unknown.
A House committee is considering a version of a Covid liability bill. Its sponsor, Rep. Julianne Young [R-Blackfoot], says it protects businesses and school districts from legal claims due to circumstances beyond their control.
“When you enter the courtroom you have the immunity from liability and then, if they can prove you engaged in willful and reckless misconduct, then the immunity is gone and the burden of proof is actually where I believe it belongs, on the accuser. We honor that principle of innocent until proven guilty," Young said.
Rep. John Gannon [D-Boise] says he supports giving businesses immunity, but says, with this bill, schools get off too easily.
“It gives no incentive to them to try to social distance with those kids, to try to have very small classrooms that are manageable. There’s no incentive in there to do that," Gannon said.
The House this morning unanimously a bill giving county elections officials more time to prepare ballots returned by voters before they can be counted on Election Day.