Committee advances increase in Idaho State Bar annual license fees

The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee voted Thursday to send Senate Bill 1030 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation, advancing a proposed increase in annual license fees paid by Idaho attorneys.

Representative Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, who presented the measure, said the bill ‘‘is a raise in license fees for Idaho attorneys’’ intended to support the Idaho State Bar’s oversight functions. He told the committee the proposal follows a membership survey last November in which ‘‘it was approved by 63% majority to increase this fee on ourselves as our profession.’’

The bill would raise fees for actively licensed lawyers by $60 a year and impose smaller increases for newer lawyers and other license categories. Maureen Braley, executive director of the Idaho State Bar, told the committee the increase is modest and intended to fund the bar’s existing statutory responsibilities under Idaho law rather than new programs.

‘‘The fee enables us to fund our operations and continue to do the work we're required to do under the Idaho code,’’ Braley said. She said the bar is self-funded by member license fees and that no taxpayer dollars are used.

Committee discussion was limited. Representative Sheritz moved to send the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion carried with one member recorded as opposed.

No members of the public had signed up to testify for or against the bill, and presenters took no further questions before the committee voted to advance the measure.

The committee record reflects that the fee last increased in 2011 and that the proposed increase would not affect the state general fund because it applies only to Idaho attorneys.