House committee sends bill to floor to bar state‑controlled, out‑of‑state entities from owning Idaho transmission

The House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee voted to send House Bill 415 to the full House with a due‑pass recommendation after a contentious hearing on governance of interstate power markets.

The bill would prohibit an entity that is controlled by an out‑of‑state government from entering into contracts to own or operate transmission facilities in Idaho; sponsor Representative Vito Barbieri described the measure as aimed at preventing a state‑controlled out‑of‑state entity from dictating Idaho transmission policy and rates.

Supporters said the measure addresses governance and accountability concerns. "Basically what we're trying to do is we recognize that recently there have been developments with respect to the California independent system operator ... and it raises concerns about the potential influence of a foreign state corporation," Representative Vito Barbieri, District 3, said. Barbieri told the committee he was worried that an entity governed and chartered…