Idaho House passes Senate bills for literacy and wildfire mitigation funding

The Idaho House of Representatives convened on April 3, 2025, for Legislative Session Day 88, where several significant bills were discussed and voted on. The session primarily focused on the passage of multiple appropriation bills related to education and public safety.

One of the key highlights was the approval of Senate Bill 12 13, a trailer appropriation bill linked to Senate Bill 10 69, which addresses literacy initiatives. This bill, which had a fiscal note of $5 million, aims to fund professional development for science-based reading programs. The House voted in favor of the bill with a tally of 42 ayes and 27 nays, confirming its passage.

Following this, Senate Bill 12 14, which pertains to wildfire mitigation efforts, was also passed. This bill includes funding for two additional full-time positions in the Public Utility Commission and allocates $187,000 for wildfire-related initiatives. The vote concluded with 49 ayes and 19 nays.

The session continued with the introduction of Senate Bill 12 15, which seeks funding from the Millennium Fund, established through a settlement with tobacco companies. This bill aims to support youth assessment centers and a fentanyl awareness campaign by the Idaho State Police. The House agreed to suspend further readings to expedite the discussion of this bill.

Overall, the session underscored the House's commitment to addressing critical issues such as education funding and public safety, with multiple bills successfully moving forward for further consideration in the Senate.