The Latest: House committee OKs ballot initiatives bills

The Latest on Idaho ballot initiatives legislation:

1:15 p.m.

A House committee introduced four new bills on ballot initiatives that when combined add up to two pieces of legislation already rejected by Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little.

The House State Affairs Committee on Monday took four votes to introduce the four bills. It’s not clear if the bills will get public hearings or go straight to the full House for consideration.

Little vetoed one previous ballot initiative bill last week that opponents said made the initiative process impossible.

Little has said he will veto the second bill that slightly softens the first when it reaches his desk.

Republican Rep. Sage Dixon says the four new bills are an attempt to break up the two previous ballot initiative bills to see what’s acceptable to a majority of lawmakers and the governor.

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11:43 a.m.

A House committee is attempting to introduce four new bills on ballot initiatives that when combined add up to two pieces of legislation already rejected by Idaho Gov. Brad Little.

But the House State Affairs Committee on Monday went into recess to research the rules after Democratic Rep. John Gannon questioned introducing legislation that had already been rejected.

Little vetoed one ballot initiative bill last week that opponents said made the initiative process impossible.

Little has said he will veto the second bill that slightly softens the first when it reaches his desk.

Republican Rep. Sage Dixon says the four potential bills are an attempt to break up the two previous ballot initiative bills to see what’s acceptable to a majority of lawmakers and the governor.

The committee’s chairman, Republican Rep. Steve Harris, gave no indication on when or if the committee might reconvene.