House OKs bill requiring fiscal note on ballot initiatives

Legislation requiring that ballot initiatives include how much the proposed law will cost and how it will be funded is headed to the Senate.

The House voted 48-18 Wednesday to approve the bill that was a portion of another bill vetoed last week by Republican Gov. Brad Little.

Backers say the legislation is needed so that voters have the information they need when approving laws with ballot initiatives and referendums.

The bill is one of four elements in a previous bill that combined would have dramatically toughened the requirements to get an initiative or referendum on the Idaho ballot.

After Little’s veto, Republicans in the house introduced four new bills comprising elements of the vetoed legislation.

The bill passed by the House Wednesday now goes to the Senate.

The three other bills were sent to a committee for hearings that have not been scheduled.