Senate Bill 1110
The House State Affairs Committee took up Senate Bill 1110. This bill, sponsored by Senator Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, and Representative Jim Addis, R-Coeur d’Alene, addresses ballot initiatives. The Bill would require signatures from all of Idaho’s 35 Legislative Districts to get an initiative on the ballot. The bill passed 12-2.
House Bill 311
Representative Aaron Von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston introduced a new version of his public Art Bill. The change requires that any art projects costing more than $25,000 in taxpayer dollars would require the approval of 60% of voters. The previous bill proposed art projects of less than $10,000 would require 2/3 voter approval.
Attorney General Budget Voted Down (House Bill 271)
Today on the House floor, House Bill 271 (an appropriation for the state Attorney general’s 2022 budget) was voted down, 29-40. This piece of legislation would have allotted $27,737,800 to the Attorney General’s office and caps the number of full-time positions to 220.00. This action comes in the wake of legislation allowing the Department of Lands the ability to contract its own legal counsel instead of using the Attorney General’s office. The appropriation bill will now be sent back to JFAC for further discussion.
House Bill 249
This bill, sponsored by Representative Barbra Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, would require that parents opt-in their students for sex education rather than opt-out. The bill passed 56-12. This piece of legislation is very similar to a bill she introduced last session that didn’t fully make it through the legislative process. House Bill 249 now heads to the Senate.
House Bill 126
This bill, sponsored by Senator Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon addresses industrial hemp. This legislation would legalize the production, processing, research, and transportation of industrial hemp in Idaho. Hemp grown in Idaho would be limited to 0.3% or less THC. The bill passed the House 44-26 and should head to the Senate, where they will decide if it will be heard in committee.
House Bill 174
This bill, sponsored by Representative Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley, would give school boards the option of whether they will participate in negotiations with teacher unions. This legislation will accomplish this by changing just one section of the law from “SHALL enter into negotiations” to “MAY enter into negotiations.”
House Bill 118
This bill, sponsored by Representative Megan Blanksma, R-Hammett, which allows the department to hire or contract its own legal counsel instead of using the Attorney general, passed 57-13.
House Bill 169
This bill, sponsored by Representative Julianne Young, R-Blackfoot, strengthens performance measures for state agencies, including customer service, passed 69 to 1.
House Bill 231
This piece of legislation sponsored by Representative John McCrostie, D-Garden City, and Representative Jason A. Monks, R-Meridian, would require an individual who is filing to run for president or vice president to meet the same deadline as other candidates. Right now, candidates are allowed to file until August. This bill passed unanimously.