Doyle Beck, LD 32 Chair,, contributor
House Bill 71, which would prohibit genital mutilation in children, passed the House very easily with just one Republican opposed (Matt Bundy of Mountain Home). It now goes to the Senate.
Senate Bill 1038, which would create a universal education choice opportunity for students in Idaho passed the Senate Education Committee 6-3 with chairman David Lent voting with the Democrats in opposition to the legislation. It now goes to the Senate floor for consideration.
Lots of items are racing through the state Legislature, and I thought I’d take this moment to point out some of them that I haven’t had time to go over previously.
House Bill 12 would prevent state agencies from using public dollars to sponsor organization events, except with the express permission of the governor. This came up last year when it was discovered that Idahoans were paying to sponsor “Pride” events in Boise and Coeur d’Alene. However, it’s a practice that’s been going on much longer. The Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry opposes the bill while the Idaho Freedom Foundation is neutral on it because the group disagrees with the idea that the governor should be able to sign off on sponsoring organization events.
(By the way, I can’t include a link to IACI’s analysis of bills it supports or opposes because it only provides a note on its website of which bills are supported or opposed).
House Bill 27 would prevent employees from being fired for not receiving a covid vaccine. The Freedom Foundation supports the legislation while IACI opposes it.
Both the Freedom Foundation and IACI oppose a bill that would let cities set their own minimum wage. It’s House Bill 48, and it has yet to have had a hearing in committee. The two groups are also in agreement on House Bill 74, which would make it easier for folks from out of state to become licensed in their occupations in Idaho.
Finally, for today, the Freedom Foundation is supportive of House Bill 75, which would tighten down on the use of absentee ballots in elections. IACI is opposed to the bill.