by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports

Lawmakers on the House State Affairs Committee introduced several new pieces of legislation on Wednesday morning. The bills must receive a public committee hearing before moving forward.

HB 495 – Advertising illegal products and services

Marijuana is fully illegal in Idaho, but that has not stopped cannabis businesses in neighboring states from advertising their products to Idaho residents. Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, presented a bill that seeks to stop those dispensaries from advertising here over the state line.

Under the bill, “any person who willfully publishes any notice or advertisement, in any medium, of a product or service that is illegal under Idaho law” would be guilty of a misdemeanor. Fines under the statute would be distributed to the sheriff and district court of the county where the violation occurred.

HB 496 – Property and foreign governments

The legislature passed a law last year that forbids foreign governments and state-controlled enterprises from purchasing or owning agricultural land, water rights or mineral rights in the state. Boyle and Sen. Chris Trakel, R-Caldwell, are sponsoring a bill that would add forest land to those protected categories.

The legislation would also add federally recognized Indian tribes to the list of non-foreign governments. Over the summer, a lobbyist for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes informed lawmakers that the original bill neglected to acknowledge the tribes and may unintentionally bar them from purchasing resource lands.

HB 497 – Vacancy in public office

Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, introduced a bill that would no longer allow elected local government officers to hold another higher elected position at the same time. An elected city, school district or highway district position would be declared vacant under the bill if the local officeholder takes the oath of office for an elected federal, statewide or legislative office.

Ehardt is a former Idaho Falls city councilor and the chair of the House Local Government Committee.

“This change will ensure that a federal, statewide, or state legislative office holder’s full attention and focus is given to the high office to which they have been elected, and their interest in the well-being of the citizens of their state or district is neither divided nor weighted,” the statement of purpose reads.

The provision would not apply to the substitutes or emergency successors designated by state lawmakers.

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