Voters in Idaho may get the chance to decide whether state legislators may call themselves into special, non-scheduled sessions. The change requires an amendment to the state constitution.Idaho legislators were frustrated last year when they felt they should have returned to Boise to deal with pandemic-related issues. But the state’s constitution doesn’t allow the legislature to call itself back for a ‘special’ or ‘extraordinary’ session. Only the governor can do that. Eventually, he did call lawmakers back in August, but, to their chagrin, he dictated the issues they would discuss.
Jason Monks: “This is the only way we can have some assurance that we’ll be able to be part of the process. If we don’t have this in place, I think we’re forcing ourselves to be here longer," said the measure's floor sponsor, Rep. Jason Monks [R-Meridian].
The resolution approved Tuesday by the House of Representatives allows the legislature to call itself back when 60% of legislators from each chamber submit written requests to convene. They must also specify which issues they want to consider.
The House approved the bill Tuesday, 54-to-15. The Senate has already approved it by more than the required two-to-one margin, since it’s a proposed constitutional amendment. The measure wouldn’t go before voters until November 2022.