[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6114520,"mediaKeyId","2743074-23314e69a4f5a48f1618772915a7b1a6","parentId",2743074,"title","Senate panel advances Wildfire Standard Care Act, 7-2, after debate on damages and utility liability","audioSeconds",2010,"startMs",77000,"endMs",2087000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2743074-23314e69a4f5a48f1618772915a7b1a6&start=77&end=2087","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2743074-23314e69a4f5a48f1618772915a7b1a6/thumbnail_77000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6114520/Idaho/Senate-panel-advances-Wildfire-Standard-Care-Act-7-2-after-debate-on-damages-and-utility-liability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114520-6542808086f85c3f4ef2fa2c1c858210/orig.mp4?Expires=1775758013&Signature=nNNDNbtksb0j9C~mXkwXT~G9n5Z675QjTQDjsA89V2RcMAWKgAWr7d81nto-o8FzjEl0dS3~PhfKJ5j7fFjh-BThIHEWt~OYSd8aTuqMXo0w5iO0iup5uKG72dCSSHGfsHthZrCgPtYxANC6pIRdBDME9pZ0zYbz5FXE2uZn1yI9IJKwnicZ9xfgbPsYhpoH~OSL1ckp5VQ5pzJk36JuH8v8r5j1BZpuy0dHxpRg1VnkFK4GfpHc7j2AlmRfbl0ax9SniQYfMnva90f2ZYx0MJDVjchDSJ8u4evsQL8fQk5bmNd2O0rP02jqUmlp3Tvb-NtM1q0wW6~8Kl8ePhcaBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Idaho Legislature","date","2025-03-21T00:00:00Z","article","State Sen. Jim Woodward, sponsor of Senate Bill 1183, told the Senate State Affairs Committee Friday that the Wildfire Standard Care Act would establish a regulatory standard of care for electric utilities and require utilities to submit wildfire mitigation plans to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The committee voted 7‑2 to send the bill to the Senate floor with a do‑pass recommendation.

Woodward said the bill, developed after stakeholder workgroups and the governor’s 2024 wildfire report, defines a standard of care, requires utilities to file wildfire plans with the PUC and conditions civil liability on compliance with a commission‑approved plan. “This proposal…is aimed at preserving our safe, reliable, and affordable power,” Woodward said.

The sponsor described three primary changes since the bill’s earlier draft: the PUC will consider (rather than merely consult) input from the state forester when reviewing vegetation‑management portions of mitigation plans for timberland; utilities must notify counties, fire protection districts, fire protection associations and timber protection associations within the service territory no later than five business days after filing a plan with the PUC; and the civil‑liability standard was changed from “substantial compliance” to a “rebuttable presumption.” The bill points to existing Idaho code on damages and cleanup authority to frame liability limits.

Committee members pressed the sponsor and the bill drafter on whether the statute would allow plaintiffs to recover medical bills and wrongful‑death damages in cases where a utility’s negligence caused fire‑related injury or death. Senator Ruck asked, “Was it the intent to leave medical expenses and wrongful death claims out of this bill?” Ken McClure, an attorney with Givens Pursley who said he drafted the bill and represents the Idaho Consumer Owned Utilities Association, answered: “The damages that you can get are the same damages you can get under current law, and they are accepted here specifically as the limitations in those [code] sections.”

Committee discussion focused on how courts would interpret language that makes the statute’s civil action the “exclusive civil remedies available” for damages related to a commission‑approved wildfire plan. Several senators said they were concerned the phrasing could be read to limit recoverable damages even if a jury awarded them; others said Idaho law already contains damage limitations in several codes and that courts would resolve the scope on a fact‑by‑fact basis.

The committee approved the motion to send SB 1183 to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation. The roll call recorded multiple “aye” votes and the chair announced the motion carried 7‑2.

If enacted as drafted, SB 1183 would change how wildfire liability is litigated in Idaho by making compliance with a PUC‑approved wildfire mitigation plan central to liability determinations, requiring specified post‑filing notice to local response and landowners, and altering the statutory posture for claims against electric utilities. The bill will next be considered by the full Senate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Standing Committee State Affairs March 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","State Sen. Jim Woodward told the Senate State Affairs Committee Friday that Senate Bill 1183 would set a regulatory standard of care for electric utilities and link civil liability to compliance with PUC‑approved wildfire mitigation plans; the committee voted 7‑2 to send the bill to the Senate floor.","taxTitle","2025 Legislative Sessions, Idaho","taxId",77671,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114513,"Senate committee sends HJR 6 to floor to put official‑English amendment before voters",384,3167000,3551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2743074-23314e69a4f5a48f1618772915a7b1a6&start=3167&end=3551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2743074-23314e69a4f5a48f1618772915a7b1a6/thumbnail_3167000.jpg","/articles/6114513/Idaho/Senate-committee-sends-HJR-6-to-floor-to-put-officialEnglish-amendment-before-voters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114513-8c5d43ef016f57b4db9605a68d1440d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775758013&Signature=ElyrFpMgrhuHd0u6kPfuhv9-OukYEpczaMgZrwGhEqXP~SDEhnj5v4YZomJOTuzg~mVqdOyq8lT7F1-I5JSwjxHCzaBvzCbNDiT3z1n2Ak-Dirmxf5O-v95AaTU5isRnNrRaNorKyivTCGLWSllEOna5iTstU3xPycUdcrEa1HAeOmlWTJ~DYwlV-MmxJWgNAdAloZ6eYL5c-Yj~Ap3TVGS~rALMoJxl7ftMQBJSrpV5z6gNEI8BKboTWnPVjncK7cgmJqo35hgt5USdIPUoKSqZ9HU~1uhS8B1XzIYj1Z1Xo7~OsuntiGEtikN96JRXPxC80fSEmgazJl-1~Nn3lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator (presenter) outlined House Joint Resolution 6 on Friday, telling the Senate State Affairs Committee that the proposed amendment would make English the official language of Idaho for public proceedings, documents, instruction and other public acts, “except as required by federal law.” The committee voted to send HJR 6 to the Senate floor with a do‑pass recommendation.

The sponsor argued HJR 6 would codify in the Idaho Constitution language already present in state code and said the amendment would promote unity, streamline government communications and encourage civic engagement. The sponsor read an excerpt from a March 1, 2025, executive order by President Donald Trump about designating English as an official language at the federal level in support of the idea, saying, “Establishing English…as the official language will not only streamline communication, but also reinforce shared national values.”

Senator Shippey asked whether the resolution would prevent state agencies from using other languages; the sponsor replied the amendment would not bar other languages but would require English to be used and available in public actions. Representative Dale Hawkins, appearing to clarify the fiscal note, told the committee the estimated cost of up to $300,000 for publishing election materials would be reduced if multiple constitutional questions appear on the ballot because printing costs would be divided.

Senator Taves moved to send HJR 6 to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation; Senator Adams seconded the motion. The chair called the motion and announced it carried.

If adopted by the Legislature and then approved by voters, HJR 6 would place an express constitutional requirement on state and local public proceedings and documents to use English, subject to federal‑law exceptions. The resolution will be considered next by the full Senate.","The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to advance House Joint Resolution 6 to the Senate floor with a do‑pass recommendation; HJR 6 would place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot to designate English as Idaho’s official language for public proceedings, documents and instruction, except as required by federal law.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114516,"Senate prints bill to clarify reproductive‑health protections; sponsors cite doctor exodus in northern Idaho",1055,2088000,3143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2743074-23314e69a4f5a48f1618772915a7b1a6&start=2088&end=3143","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2743074-23314e69a4f5a48f1618772915a7b1a6/thumbnail_2088000.jpg","/articles/6114516/Idaho/Senate-prints-bill-to-clarify-reproductivehealth-protections-sponsors-cite-doctor-exodus-in-northern-Idaho","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114516-67613394910def661cd49abdf575d880/orig.mp4?Expires=1775758013&Signature=XOiRKCQlaoIlvRLVkb-clDF6BKWFFchJgTiZz5VXIgjMhbMIwSrA3ecxc8JuUHFWQPKg1K1IRpyEkR9rvtNtGN5zArYGSQaYQBolcU26RF5yj13ofdE~nZ0Tve8hu5ITyBPMCGJ3AOHUW8AHF2RthVInxwHgQJzCwKwE0W1PbuOXtyzUegeZi4seadz3OK41bBZ7PWkLrEZKh-n6fbQ3WHV1AoYGrOFtp9skcnOoJC4uTb0Kp~Tl2QhxyD5lcoeeHrA3C2jlJ~9MlGUXOzk2q4LGSavPmb2inMgdKoTx-9Cp1VzE3~MhHljvhMAZwkCLrB68aK2g4GQKNB9jK4U15Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Mark Sauter and State Sen. Jim Woodward presented RS32699 to the Senate State Affairs Committee Friday for a print hearing. The committee voted to introduce the routing slip for print; the motion carried.

Representative Mark Sauter, who represents Sandpoint, told the committee that local health care capacity has declined since March 2023 when a labor‑and‑delivery unit closed. “Since that time we’ve had three OBGYN doctors leave town,” Sauter said, and he added that a maternal‑fetal specialist and her emergency‑room‑physician husband also left, a departure he described as five physicians lost from the region. He said women in Sandpoint now must “drive for over an hour to the Coeur D’Alene area” for normal obstetric care and that Bonners Ferry residents face even longer trips.

Dr. John Wardell, a Boise OBGYN who served as medical director for women’s services at St. Luke’s Health System, told the committee that the draft would clarify how to care for complicated pregnancies and lethal fetal anomalies so more patients could be treated in state rather than referred out of state. “Physicians really don’t feel safe providing reproductive health care in Idaho,” Wardell said, citing concern that existing law leaves providers exposed to criminal or civil risk when they manage high‑risk pregnancies. He described the proposed changes as clarifying maternal health risk definitions, adding a requirement for two‑physician case review in lethal‑anomaly situations, and documenting consent and palliative/hospice care options for families.

Committee members discussed the print hearing format and the bill’s intent; several members said printing the proposal would allow broader public discussion of nuanced policy choices. Senator Den Hartog moved to introduce RS32699 to print; the motion was seconded by Senator Taves and carried without recorded opposition.

The print hearing does not carry an expectation of immediate committee action this session, but sponsors said they sought to begin the statutory conversation now to address physician retention and patient access concerns in parts of northern Idaho. The paper routing slip will be printed for public review.","The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to print RS32699, a draft intended to clarify Idaho law on care for complicated pregnancies and lethal fetal anomalies; sponsors said the change aims to retain physicians after closures and exits in northern Idaho.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate panel advances Wildfire Standard Care Act, 7-2, after debate on damages and utility liability

Senate committee sends HJR 6 to floor to put official‑English amendment before voters

Senate prints bill to clarify reproductive‑health protections; sponsors cite doctor exodus in northern Idaho