Idaho’s legislature is working to finish its rare mid-summer special session today [Wednesday] in Boise.
The House approved a bill that provides relief for businesses and schools from some Covid-related legal claims.
Rep. Barbara Ehardt [R-Idaho Falls] says institutions that are struggling to stay in business need protection.
“The question was asked how do businesses get hurt from the liability that isn’t there. Let me tell you, and this seems to be especially something that some of us on the more conservative side face a lot, the process is the punishment. The process is the punishment, when we’re taken to task and then have to defend ourselves," Ehardt said.
But during a committee hearing earlier in the day, several people rose to say there’s no need for protection from the state.
“What this means to me, as a businessowner, is that this liability bill comes with strings attached. In order for a business to retain immunity, they have to strictly abide by state rules, such as the mask mandates and, probably soon to come, vaccination mandates," said McKinley. "This is not only enforcement of tyranny, in my opinion, by proxy, by turning businessowners and schools into enforcement agents for the state, but it gives license to enable bullying and mask shaming.”
The bill was approved by a 54-to-15 vote.
Earlier in the day the Senate gave its unanimous approval to legislation that helps county elections officials. It gives them more time to prepare ballots returned by voters before they’re counted on Election Day.
