By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
The Idaho Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would shield the public’s view of some eviction cases that were dismissed.
Sen. Ali Rabe, D-Boise, who sponsored SB 1327, explained that currently in Idaho any eviction appears on a person’s public record, even if the eviction was dismissed.
The bill would allow evictions filed after Jan. 1, 2025, to be shielded from the public if the case was dismissed. That would occur after at least three years have passed from the day on which the eviction was filed, or the parties agreed to shielding and have filed the stipulation with the court, and there’s no appeal pending.
Rabe explained that the large majority of evictions are filed by landlords when a tenant temporarily cannot pay their rent, not because of a deliberate lack of payment. Once an eviction has been filed and it is public record, that can make it hard for the person to find housing in the future. The bill would incentivize tenants to show up to the court hearing, she argued, because they could benefit from participating.
Sen. Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, supported the bill, saying it is limited in what it shields and supports anyone who was wrongfully labeled with an eviction.
The bill now heads to the House for approval.
Ruth Brown | Producer
Ruth Brown grew up in South Dakota and her first job out of college was covering the South Dakota Legislature. She’s since moved on to Idaho lawmakers. Brown spent 10 years working in print journalism, including newspapers such as the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press, where she’s covered everything from the correctional system to health care issues. She joined Idaho Reports in 2021 and looks forward to telling stories about how state policy can impact the lives of regular Idahoans.