Lawmakers to consider bill to toughen initiatives next week

A panel of lawmakers has opted to hold a bill that would toughen the requirements to get an initiative on a ballot in committee for now, but the legislation will likely come up for consideration again sometime next week.

Members of the Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony from about 60 people on Friday – most of them opposed to the legislation – before unanimously agreeing to end the public hearing and hold the bill in committee for now. The bill from Republican Sen. Scott Grow would require those seeking ballot initiatives to get signatures from 10 percent of registered voters in 32 of Idaho’s 35 districts, compared to the current rules which require signatures from 6 percent of voters in 18 districts. The bill would also cut the time allowed to gather the signatures from 18 months to six months.

Idaho Senate State Affairs chairwoman Sen. Patti Anne Lodge says the committee will most likely consider the bill again sometime next week.