Over the weekend, Bogus Basin got a 6-inch powder dump on Saturday, followed by a day of bright sunny skies on Sunday, and somehow things look brighter and busier in the legislature this week. Additionally we're reminded that primary races are just around the corner with the closing of filing for candidacy on Friday.
Just so far this morning, a new 26-page urban renewal reform bill was introduced this in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, after a subcommittee studied seven other bills from various sponsors which then all were rejected in favor of the new measure. The new bill introduced this morning was proposed by Rep. Leon Smith (of Twin Falls) who chaired the subcommittee.
The Idaho Meth Project, which REALTORS® have been very involved, will get another half-million dollars from the state next year, with the money coming from tobacco-settlement Millennium Funds.
The IREC bills we have been advocating for (s1248, s1249, s1250, s1251) will be introduced in the House Business Committee today; the bills have already passed the Senate.
The 2010 legislative session will likely end in the next 2 to 3 weeks, so it will be very busy as hundreds of bills make their way through the legislative process.
Quick note (How a bill becomes a law in Idaho): A bill is a proposal for the enactment, amendment or repeal of an existing law. A bill may originate in either the House or Senate, with the exception of revenue measures. After the 20th day of the session in the House and the 12th day in the Senate, bills may be introduced only by committee. Each committee to which a bill is referred conducts a study of all information that may help the committee determine the scope and effect of the proposed law. It must be passed by a majority vote of each house of the Legislature and may be signed into law by the Governor.