Eye on Boise

The Idaho House voted Monday to call on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the right to gay marriage.

The University of Idaho has closed several offices in order to comply with a DEI ban — but that doesn’t mean it will cut staff, Idaho Education News reporters Kevin Richert and Ryan Suppe write.

Soon after Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador took office in January 2023, much of the office’s senior leadership team changed, Idaho Capital Sun reporter Kyle Pfannenstiel writes.

 A bill that would ban government entities from implementing mask mandates has been sent to the Idaho House, Idaho Press reporter Jodie Schwicht writes.

Amid calls to repeal Idaho’s sales tax on groceries, a lawmaker is proposing to increase the grocery tax credit.

 Idaho lawmakers are trying again to repeal Medicaid expansion, which would revoke health coverage for around 90,000 Idahoans. 

A legislative work group on DEI, diversity equity and inclusion, wrapped up its work Thursday as it voted to recommend a bill prohibiting DEI in higher education activities, services, offices, faculty or staff positions, training, and required courses, as well as in hiring and admissions.

There was a clear divide between some new lawmakers and veteran legislators during the 30 minutes of debate Thursday before the House voted overwhelmingly to approve a resolution allowing lawmakers to donate their salaries toward a tax relief fund.

House and Senate members introduced competing private school choice proposals on Wednesday.

BOISE — Two new flag ban bills have been introduced in the Idaho Legislature.

BOISE — Idaho lawmakers will consider significantly reducing income taxes this year, resulting in an anticipated $253 million reduction in revenue — with more proposed tax cuts on the way.

The House voted Tuesday to approve a bill creating a mandatory minimum fine for possessing 3 ounces or less of marijuana.

A bill was introduced Tuesday to make the firing squad the primary method of execution by the state. Currently, the state’s primary method of carrying out the death penalty is lethal injection, and the firing squad is to be used if the chemicals for lethal injection cannot be obtained.

BOISE — Lawmakers introduced an anticipated private school choice tax credit bill Wednesday morning.

BOISE — The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday morning introduced a concurrent resolution that would allow state legislators to donate some or all of their salaries.

Unions for teachers, school boards, and administrators are calling on state lawmakers to invest in public schools rather than proposals to help fund private schooling.

The Idaho Senate voted to reject pay raises for themselves that were previously set by a citizen’s committee.

Idaho’s budget writers have swiftly passed maintenance budgets for all state agencies and programs, representing all the ongoing expenditures approved by past Legislatures.

Two hearings in the Bryan Kohberger case will be held this coming week at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, the Lewiston Tribune staff writes.

JFAC

BOISE – The state budget-writing Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee failed to garner sufficient support for two separate proposed revenue targets to set the budget against.