LICENSE PLATES
Bill killed; sponsor gets birthday wishes
Republican Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll of Grangeville was pushing a plan to recognize volunteer emergency medical service providers with their own specialty Idaho license plate.
But senators have grown stingy about creating more specialty plates. So the chamber voted 20-15 to reject Nuxoll's plan.
But minutes later, leaders pointed out Nuxoll was born on this date in 1951 - and encouraged senators to wish her a happy birthday.
The Associated Press
FEDERAL LAND
House begins debate on state management
A House committee has introduced a resolution calling on lawmakers to study the pros and cons of Idaho wresting control of public land managed by the federal government.
Republican Rep. Lawerence Denney of Midvale is the chief sponsor of both proposals.
Denney says the state is often at odds with the way federal agencies manage land, species and approach to harvesting timber.
The Associated Press
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Senate approves religious groups bill
Idaho's public universities would be barred from denying official recognition and other benefits to religious student groups under the bill.
The measure approved Thursday on a 30-5 vote gives university religious organizations freedom to restrict their leadership positions to those truly committed to their faith.
The bill moves to the House.
The Associated Press
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
CWI gets less funding than requested
Idaho's three community colleges got a budget boost from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, though it fell far short of the funding the colleges requested in the face of ballooning enrollment at the state's newest, the College of Western Idaho.
The budget set by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee gives the colleges $30.2 million, an 8.9 percent increase, matching the governor's recommendation; the colleges had requested a 40.3 percent increase to $39.8 million.
CWI will get $900,000 of the $1.25 million the governor recommended.
Spokesman-Review
LIQUOR LICENSES
Bill to relax resort town regulations on hold
Restaurant owners in Driggs and other Idaho resort towns will have to wait a little longer for a change in state law to make liquor licenses more accessible.
Republican Rep. Marc Gibbs of Grace made a case for the change, telling lawmakers that current rules only allow two liquor licenses at restaurants in Driggs.
But several lawmakers raised concerns that adding more liquor licenses would depress the resale value of existing liquor licenses.
The Associated Press
WEAPONS
House passes bill for concealed knives
Legislation that would carve out an exemption in Idaho's concealed weapons law on knives has passed the House.
The measure approved unanimously Thursday allows Idahoans to carry concealed knives with blades four inches or shorter without a permit. Longer knives used to prepare food, Tasers and pepper spray also would be permitted.
The Associated Press
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.