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House panel passes bill to take over firefighting on federal lands
by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports The House Resources and Conservation Committee unanimously advanced a bill Monday that would empower the governor of Idaho to use state firefighting resources on federal lands and then seek repayment in court. Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, presented House Bill 389 to the committee. She said the Idaho Department of Lands…
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Senate panel approves power utility property tax change
by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would reform and modernize how the state of Idaho collects taxes from power utility companies. As reported by Valley Lookout, taxing districts across the state are estimated to owe $13 million following recent court judgments that Idaho Power…
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Defendants seek to dismiss library lawsuit
by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports Attorney General Raúl Labrador has moved to dismiss a federal lawsuit against the state which seeks to overturn the library materials law that took effect in 2024. The suit seeks an injunction to prevent the Attorney General and local prosecutors from enforcing the law. Since July, it allows individuals to…
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Limited official data available on statewide fire risk
by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports It’s no surprise that Idahoans’ vulnerability to wildland fires varies depending on where they live. But finding out that exact level of risk is a bit more tricky. As state officials discuss what can be done to mitigate the risk of major fires sweeping through Idaho communities, little localized information…
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“Complete fabrications:” Lawmakers receive fake constituent emails regarding grocery tax legislation
by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports Multiple Idaho state lawmakers say they received emails this week purporting to be from constituents in their districts, but that actually came from American Action Fund, a political action committee affiliated with the Texas-based libertarian group Young Americans for Liberty. The emails, signed with the names and addresses of real…
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Senate once again passes anti-swatting bill
by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports The Idaho Senate passed a bill Thursday to create stronger criminal penalties for false emergency reports that are used to harass people, also known as “swatting.” The term refers to special weapons and tactics units, or SWAT teams, that law enforcement agencies use to respond to high-risk situations like bomb…
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Idaho grant recipients scrambling for clarity after federal freeze
By Logan Finney and Melissa Davlin, Idaho Reports As federal grant recipients in Idaho scramble to figure out how a federal freeze on grants and loans will impact their programs, the state Division of Financial Management has instructed agencies not to use state general fund money to offset any losses from a federal freeze on…
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House leaders want to preserve lawmaker pay raise
by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports The two chambers of the Idaho Legislature often butt heads over how to handle certain topics at the statehouse. This year, that extends to whether lawmakers need a pay raise. Legislators have no authority under the Idaho Constitution to set their own pay. Instead, a Citizens’ Committee appointed by the…
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Proposition One Explained
We dive deep into Proposition One – what it would do, what it might cost, and what its supporters and opponents are saying.
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Judge: Labrador’s evidence shows open primaries campaign was not misleading
“To say that the Idaho Supreme Court’s statutory authority to prescribe ballot title language means the Idaho Supreme Court can foreclose debate about the purpose and effect of an initiative would most certainly render such power unconstitutional,” wrote Fourth Judicial District Judge Patrick Miller.
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AG: Open primaries initiative campaigned on ‘objective falsehood’
Fourth Judicial District Judge Patrick Miller said he plans to release his written decision on Thursday morning.