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Idaho Senate candidates raise nearly $900k ahead of May 17 primary election
Editor’s note: The Idaho Capital Sun will publish the fundraising totals for Idaho House of Representatives candidates on Wednesday, April 6. Now that the dust has settled on redistricting and official declarations for office, fundraising is picking up for Idaho Senate candidates — and quite a few of those candidates just finished their last session […]
Idaho governor vetoes judicial council bill
Gov. Brad Little issued a veto letter for House Bill 782 on Wednesday afternoon, a bill that would make sweeping changes to the Idaho Judicial Council and give the governor more authority over the judicial appointment process. “I agree with the legislative sponsors of this bill that there is a need to modernize the Judicial […]
Planned Parenthood files petition to block Idaho abortion law
Planned Parenthood Great Northwest announced in a press release Wednesday morning that the organization filed a petition with the Idaho Supreme Court to block an abortion law that allows civil lawsuits against medical professionals who provide abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected by ultrasound. “The abortion ban blatantly undermines patients’ right to privacy. […]
Idaho attorney general announces formal partnership with FCC to investigate robocalls
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced in a press release Tuesday that the state will join the Federal Communications Commission to investigate robocalls, saying the partnership will help the agencies share information and more effectively investigate the businesses running robocall operations. “Robocalls are a global problem and individually we as states are not equipped to […]
Fundraising a dead heat between Republican candidates for Idaho lieutenant governor
As the Idaho Legislature conducted its business throughout the past two months, candidates for statewide office continued the fundraising march to the primary in May, including two legislators who are in a dead heat for fundraising — Speaker of the House Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, and Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird. Bedke and Giddings are vying […]
Idaho governor signs bill to shield lethal injection drug companies
Gov. Brad Little signed a bill late Wednesday afternoon granting confidentiality to suppliers and manufacturers of lethal injection drugs in Idaho. Opposition groups say it will likely be challenged in court. House Bill 658 extends legal protection to any person or business responsible for compounding, synthesizing, testing, selling, transporting, manufacturing, storing or prescribing the chemicals […]
Who can judge the judges? Idaho governor to consider a bill remaking the judicial council
The Idaho Senate on Thursday approved a bill that, if signed into law by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, will require major changes to the composition of Idaho’s judicial council and give the governor more authority over the judicial appointment process. The House quickly passed House Bill 782 after it was introduced last Wednesday, sending it […]
Bill to change the Idaho Judicial Council advances to Senate floor
Despite opposition from judges and attorneys from various corners of Idaho, and some hesitation from committee members, the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee advanced a bill Wednesday that makes major changes to the Idaho Judicial Council. The council handles complaints against judicial members and guides the selection process for appointments when there is a judicial […]
Idaho governor signs bill effectively banning most abortions
Idaho Gov. Brad Little has signed Senate Bill 1309 and Senate Bill 1358, bills allowing civil lawsuits to be filed against medical professionals who perform abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected. The Idaho Attorney General offered an opinion on the legislation to a senator in February saying Senate Bill 1309 would ban almost all […]
McGeachin casts tie-breaking vote to pass medical school tuition payback bill
Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin cast a tie-breaking vote on Wednesday morning in the Idaho Senate to pass a bill that will require graduates of Idaho’s medical school to practice in the state for at least four years or pay back any tuition subsidized by public dollars. Under Senate rules, Idaho’s lieutenant governor acts as president […]
Idaho Senate approves gap financing fund for workforce housing
The Idaho Senate passed the bill providing $50 million to a workforce housing fund on Tuesday, using federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to help build about 1,000 units of housing across Idaho. House Bill 701 passed 26-9 and was narrowly approved by the House of Representatives earlier this month. The program would provide grants […]
Bill increasing circuit breaker threshold passes Idaho Senate
After a stalemate on competing bills, the Idaho Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed the House of Representatives’ version of an increase to the qualification requirements for the state circuit breaker program. Idaho’s circuit breaker program reduces property taxes for elderly, widowed or disabled homeowners. Sen. Regina Bayer, R-Meridian, sponsored House Bill 481 on the Senate […]