Update on Bills We Have Covered (5/9/2021)

By Greg Pruett • May 9, 2021

Idaho Dispatch wants to periodically update citizens on the status of bills that we have converted. These articles are not intended to be an all-inclusive recap of each bill but simply a quick update on their status.

The typical flow of a bill is as follows. It doesn’t always work in this exact way or order but is a general guideline for how bills/resolutions flow:

A bill has an introductory hearing where a committee determines if the bill should go forward for a possible public hearing.
If the bill gets a hearing, it will go before one of the committees determined by the topic at hand. The committee then holds a public hearing (or the bill can be “drawered” by the committee chairman), and the committee votes on what to do with the bill.
Once the bill passes the committee, it then goes to the full House or Senate Floor for a vote depending on which side the bill was started.
If the bill passes the full House or Senate floor vote, it then goes to a committee on the opposite side of the rotunda. For instance, if HB 1 passes the House Floor, it then moves to a Senate committee.
If the bill passes through the committee of the other chamber, it then moves to a full vote in that chamber.
If the bill passes the floor vote in the other chamber, the bill then goes to the governor’s office for consideration.
The bill can be vetoed (denied) by the governor, approved by the governor, or let the bill ride into law by taking no action on the bill.
If the governor vetoes the bill, the legislature can override the bill if it is not too late in the session.

Please be sure to see the list below for updates. Status updates in “blue” are NEW updates since our last article summary:

SB 1211 – Relating to wolf depredation.

Status – The bill has been signed into law by Gov. Little.

SJR 102 – Relating to the legislature being able to call themselves back into session.

Status – The bill cleared the House and Senate with a two-thirds majority and will now be voted on by Idaho’s voters in November of 2022. The bill is an Idaho Constitutional amendment and does not require the governor’s approval but does require the approval of voters.

HB 135 – Relating to limiting gubernatorial powers during emergencies.

Status – The bill was vetoed by Gov. Little, overridden by the House, and failed when the Senate failed to override as well.

SB 1136 – Relating to limiting gubernatorial powers during emergencies.

Status – Gov. Little vetoed the bill and the Senate failed to override the veto.

HB 387 – Relating to the Idaho Higher Education Budget.

Status – The bill has been signed into law by Gov. Brad Little.

HB 319 – Relating to moving city elections in Idaho to even years.

Status – The bill has cleared the House State Affairs Committee and is awaiting a vote in the Idaho House. (No change from the last update.)

HB 339a (Replaced HB 281) – Relating to prohibiting any elected official or agency in Idaho from mandating face coverings.

Status – The bill has cleared the House and is waiting for a hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

HB 249 – Relating to “Sexual Education.”

Status – The bill has cleared the House and is waiting for a hearing in the Senate Education Committee.

SB 1205 (Replaced HB 300) – Relating to the 2nd Amendment.

Status – The is currently on Gov. Brad Little’s desk.

HB 106 – Relating to removing the August election date in Idaho.

Status – The bill died in the Senate State Affairs Committee. (No change from the last update.)

HB 154 – Relating to vehicle emissions testing and allowing county commissioners to opt-out of testing under certain conditions.

Status – The bill has cleared the Idaho House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee. (No change from the last update.)

SB 1112 / HJR 1 – Relating to the legislature’s ability to call themselves back into session.

Status – SB 1112 is in the House State Affairs Committee and HJR 1 is in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

SB 1132 – Relating to illegal immigrants obtaining a Driving Authorization Card.

Status – The bill is waiting for a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee. (No change from the last update.)

HB 195 – Relating to “targeted picketing” outside of people’s homes.

Status – The bill has died on the House Floor. (No change from the last update.)

HB 53 – Relating to public notices being posted on government websites instead of newspapers.
Status – The bill died on the House Floor 32-38. (No change from the last update.)

SB 1110 – Relating to ballot initiatives to increase the number of districts needed.

Status – The bill has been signed into law by Gov. Little.

HB 108 – Relating to decriminalizing medical marijuana in Idaho.
Status – The bill has been introduced in the Health and Welfare Committee but has not had a public hearing. (No change from the last update.)

HB 97 – Relating to COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Status – The bill has been introduced in the Health and Welfare Committee but has not had a public hearing. (No change from the last update.)

HB 223 (Replaced HB 88)– Relating to ballot harvesting.

Status – The bill passed the House and was sent to the “14th Order” for possible amendments by the Senate State Affairs Committee.

HJR 4 (Replaced SJR 101) – Relating to a constitutional amendment proposal that would ban marijuana and other psychoactive drugs in Idaho.
Status – The bill died in the full Idaho House, failing to get the necessary two-thirds vote.

HB 122 – Relating to concealed carry of firearms on K-12 schools by district employees (including teachers) under specific conditions.
Status – The bill has passed the Idaho House and now heads to the Senate State Affairs Committee. (No change from the last update.)

HCR 2 – Relating to rescinding the part of Governor Little’s Emergency Order limiting gathering sizes.

Status – The resolution has passed the full House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee. This resolution would not go to the governor and would become effective upon passage in the Senate. (No change from the last update.)

HB 54 – Relating to rescinding Idaho law which prohibits local governments from enacting bans on plastic bags and other plastic containers.
Status – The bill is in the House Ways and Means Committee but has not had a public hearing. This bill was submitted as a personal bill, which means it did not go through an introductory hearing. (No change from the last update.)

HB 220a (Replaced HB 17) – Relating to cutting funding for some abortions.
Status – The bill has been signed into law by Gov. Little.

HB 53 – Relating to public notices being on an agency’s website instead of in newspapers.

Status – The bill died on the House floor. (No change from the last update.)