Idaho legislature

The Idaho House on Tuesday refused to approve a budget to pay school teachers because of a continuing dispute about the teaching of social justice issues.

An Idaho legislative committee has moved a big tax relief bill to the full Senate.

The Local Government and Taxation Committee approved a two-part proposal Thursday.

The Idaho House Wednesday approved a bill that could make it more challenging to get a state-wide initiative on the ballot.

The bill requires that sponsors collect signatures from at least 6% of registered voters in each of the state’s 35 legislative districts. The current standard is 6% in 18 districts.

The Idaho Senate has approved a bill that would prohibit abortions after six or eight weeks of pregnancy.

The name of the bill sponsored by Sen. Patti Anne Lodge [R-Canyon County] is the Fetal Heartbeat Preborn Child Protection Act.

Idaho legislators will return to their 2021 session tomorrow [Tuesday] after a two-week recess. They took time off to allow a mini-Covid outbreak involving six House members to pass.

One of the items on their agenda: a second vote on accepting an early education grant. It was defeated because of concerns about the content of the curriculum.

An Idaho House committee has voted to change the years in which voters elect local and regional leaders.

In Idaho, and Washington for that matter, voters decide state and national races in even-numbered years and local races in odd-numbered years. That system shortchanges the local races, says Rep. Gayann DeMordaunt [R-Eagle].

An Idaho Senate committee has advanced a bill that would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

The vote on Thursday came after testimony from people such as Angela Dwyer from Stanton Healthcare. That’s a Boise-based crisis pregnancy center.

Idaho’s legislature has weighed into the newly-reignited regional conversation about whether to breach four lower Snake River dams. A Senate committee on Monday approved a memorial that praises the dams for the role they play in the regional economy and culture.

The Idaho House approved a bill Tuesday that would prevent public funds controlled by the state from going to any person or organization that performs abortions.

Rep. Bruce Skaug [R-Nampa] says his bill would cut off most sources of public funding for abortions that are within the power of Idaho state government.

With a teacher shortage in Idaho, state legislators are looking for ways to find enough qualified bodies to fill classrooms.

One central Idaho legislator has proposed allowing local school districts to create their own teacher selection guidelines. A House committee approved the idea Friday morning, even though the plan was heavily criticized by teachers during a hearing.

The Washington and Idaho legislatures are different in many ways. Democrats control both chambers in Olympia. Republicans are in charge in Boise.

But the pandemic has united legislators in the two states in one specific way. They’re each working to increase their authority during emergencies by calling themselves into special sessions. 

Idaho legislators have advanced a bill aimed at giving them more authority during emergency situations.

A Senate committee on Wednesday approved a proposal by Senator Kelly Arthur Anthon that clarifies the governor’s power during what it calls a “state of extreme peril.”

An Idaho House committee voted Friday to make it illegal for protestors to picket in front of someone’s home.

The so-called “targeted picketing” bill is a response to two recent Covid-related protests in the Boise area.

Idaho’s Senate on Wednesday heard testimony on legislation that would make it more difficult for citizens to place initiatives on statewide ballots.

Sen. Steve Vick’s [R-Dalton Gardens] bill would change the signature gathering requirements. Initiative sponsors currently need to collect signatures from at least 6% of the number of qualified voters in 18 of the 35 legislative districts. Vick would require 6% in all 35 districts.

During Idaho’s special legislative session today [Tuesday] a House committee voted to hold a bill that allows counties to designate in-person voting centers. Any voter within a county could go to vote there on Election Day this November, regardless of whether the center is in their precinct.

Many county elections officials say the proposal provides additional options for voters at a time when some polling places are closed due to the coronavirus.  

UPDATED 3 pm 

Protesters and a call to Governor Brad Little to drop the state's Covid emergency declaration were the highlights of  today’s [Tuesday’s] Idaho special legislation session.

In the first case, dozens of people filled an auditorium where a House committee was set to hear a bill that would limit Covid-related legal liabilities for businesses and schools.

The Idaho Senate has approved a bill that adds an in-person voting option on Election Day in November.

The legislation was one of several bills to be considered during the first day of a special session.

If or when Washington and Oregon move to full-time Daylight Saving time, parts of Idaho may change right along with it.

The Idaho House today [Tuesday] voted to keep the northernmost 10 counties of the Gem State that now operate in Pacific time consistent with the neighboring states.

An Idaho legislative committee has voted to dedicate money to help the state respond to a potential coronavirus outbreak.

On Friday, the legislative budget committee voted to move $2 million from the general fund to the governor’s emergency fund.

Idaho has no confirmed cases of the virus yet, but it has tested samples collected from 27 people.