Author
JFAC approves $32 million in emergency rental assistance funding for Idaho
The Idaho Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee signed off on a $32 million supplemental funding request for emergency rental assistance on Friday after children’s advocacy groups spent weeks advocating for the funding. JFAC voted 14-3 to approve a supplemental funding request for the Division of Financial Management, where the emergency rental assistance request was housed. The […]
Idaho Senate votes to eliminate use of student IDs for voting
The Republican-controlled Idaho Senate voted Thursday night to eliminate student IDs as an acceptable form of identification to vote in Idaho elections. If passed into law, House Bill 124 would remove a student ID issued by an Idaho high school, college, university or technical school from the list of forms of identification that are accepted […]
Idaho Legislature introduces new property tax bill as 2023 session enters late stages
A group of influential Republican Idaho legislators has combined elements of two separate property tax bills into one with hopes of addressing one of Idahoans’ top priorities before state legislators attempt to adjourn the 2023 session before the end of this month. On Thursday, the Idaho Legislature’s House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted to introduce […]
Idaho Public Charter School Commission renews eastern Idaho school that failed to pay payroll taxes
The Idaho Public Charter School Commission voted Wednesday to conditionally renew an eastern Idaho based charter school after the school didn’t pay about eight years worth of federal income taxes and failed to meet all academic performance measures. Commission members voted 4-1 to renew the performance certificate for Ammon-based Monticello Montessori Charter School with seven […]
Idaho House passes bill restricting minors from attending drag shows with ‘sexual conduct’
The Idaho House of Representatives voted to pass a bill restricting the performance of public live drag shows that contain “sexual conduct” as opponents worried that passing the bill jeopardizes all live performance art across the state. Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, and the Idaho Family Policy Center, a conservative Christian organization, are pushing House Bill […]
Idaho legislative committee calls for new restrictions on absentee ballot request forms
The Idaho Legislature’s House State Affairs Committee advanced a bill Tuesday over the objections from the Secretary of State’s Office that would greatly restrict who can distribute absentee ballot request forms. If House Bill 259 is passed into law, only a county clerk, election official, officer or employee of the state authorized by law would […]
Idaho Senate votes to repeal state ban on parading in public with firearms
The Republican supermajority in the Idaho Senate passed a bill Monday that repeals a state law banning groups of people from parading in public with firearms in any Idaho city or town. Passing the bill would also remove Idaho’s prohibition on private militias, one Democratic senator who voted against the bill said. But Sen. Dan […]
Idaho House votes to add firing squad as an alternative form of execution
With state officials unable to obtain chemicals to carry out an execution by lethal injection, the Republican-controlled Idaho House of Representatives voted Friday afternoon to pass a bill that would add the firing squad as an alternative method of execution. Currently, lethal injection is the only form of execution allowed in Idaho. House Bill 186 […]
Idaho House passes three bills opposing environmental, social and governance standards
The Idaho House of Representatives passed three consecutive bills Thursday that oppose environmental, social and governance, or ESG, standards used in business investments and credit ratings. The ESG standards can be used to indicate a commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability or indicate social consciousness. But many Republican legislators and officials in Idaho have pointed to […]
Idaho House to vote on bill restricting children from attending drag, burlesque and strip shows
A bill designed to restrict minors from attending drag, burlesque and erotic dancing shows that has been criticized for potentially violating free speech rights is heading to the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives for a vote. Opponents also said the bill spreads misconceptions about performance art and drag and marginalizes members of the […]
Bill allowing execution by firing squad heads to the Idaho House floor for a vote
The Idaho Legislature’s House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee voted Wednesday to advance a bill that would add the firing squad as an alternative method of execution when lethal injection is unavailable. As of now, lethal injection is the only form of execution in Idaho. The state of Idaho has eight inmates on death row, […]
Idaho Senate OKs bill creating new election voter guide that will be mailed to Idahoans
The Idaho Senate on Wednesday voted to pass a bill that calls for the Idaho secretary of state to create and mail a free, informational voter guide to every Idaho household before state primary and general elections. Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane brought Senate Bill 1078 forward as a way to expand upon and […]