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Idaho Senate advances wide package of bills; approves modest judicial pay increase
Summary
On March 21 the Idaho Senate amended or advanced scores of bills in a Committee of the Whole and on final consideration approved several House bills — including a measure raising judicial pay. A proposed change to the land‑bank timing failed in committee.
BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Senate on March 21 moved a large group of bills through a Committee of the Whole, approving amendments on many measures and sending amended bills back to the calendar, and on final consideration the chamber passed several House bills including a measure that raises judicial salaries.
The most closely debated item on the floor was House Bill 3 22, a salary adjustment for state judges. The Senate passed HB 3 22 on a roll‑call vote, 26 in favor and 8 opposed, with one senator absent. Sponsors and supporters said the increase is intended to help recruitment and retention of experienced attorneys for judicial posts. Sponsor Senator Steve Vick (note: transcript identifies the sponsoring senator by district; the primary floor proponent was Senator Leahy) characterized the increase as a step toward market competitiveness and cited multi‑year declines in candidate pools.
Why it matters: supporters said Idaho ranks near the bottom nationally for judicial pay and that small applicant pools have left some appointment processes with few candidates. Opponents and some speakers urged caution but did not prevail; the chamber approved the bill after extended floor debate and several senators described observing workload pressures in district courts.
Committee work and other actions: earlier the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole and took up amendments to dozens of bills. Notable committee actions included: - House Bill 1 29 (land‑bank proceeds timing): An amendment by Senator Wintrow to modify deadlines for reinvestment of land‑bank proceeds was moved by Senator Wintrow and seconded by Senator Lenny; senators debated the amendment, which would have restored a five‑year reinvestment period and given a three‑year extension for current proceeds. After standing and counted votes, the amendment failed and the committee later reported HB 1 29 back to the calendar unamended and retained its place on the fourteenth order. The sponsor explained there is roughly $31,000,000 in the land bank and that without additional time about $9,000,000 would revert to the permanent endowment. - House Bill 2 63 (sales‑tax exemption for animal adoption/rescue fees): An amendment offered by Senator Anthony and seconded by Senator Carlson that added local government animal shelters to the exemption passed in committee and the committee reported HB 2 63 as amended without recommendation. - Senate Bill 11 40 (highway and bridge language / Idaho Building Code technical corrections): Committee amendments clarifying that the changes apply to highway and bridge projects and restoring code language were adopted; the committee returned SB 11 40 as amended without recommendation. - Senate Bill 11 71 (civil cause of action in fetal heartbeat statute): Committee amendments narrowed and clarified standards for early review of potentially frivolous civil actions, removed cross‑references at the request of the Attorney General’s office, and adjusted dismissal and attorney‑fee language; the amendment to section 1 was adopted in committee and the committee returned SB 11 71 as amended without recommendation.
Final votes at a glance: - House Bill 1 50 (homestead conveyance/encumbrance by spouses), as amended in the Senate — Passed by roll call: 34 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 absent; will be returned to the House. - House Bill 1 02 (recreation districts; dissolution options) — Passed by roll call using the same roll as HB 1 50: 34 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 absent; will be returned to the House. - House Bill 3 22 (judicial salaries) — Passed by roll call: 26 Aye, 8 Nay, 1 absent; will be returned to the House.
What remained on the calendar: the Committee of the Whole considered and reported many other measures as amended without recommendation, including HB 1 74, SB 11 64, HB 2 39, HB 1 30, HB 96, HB 2 64, HB 3 57, HB 2 71, HB 1 09, HB 3 68 and others; several bill amendments were referred to Judiciary and Rules for printing or engrossing as appropriate.
Quotes from the floor: “If we don't do that, by December we could lose that $9,000,000 out to the stock market,” Senator Wintrow said in Committee of the Whole debate on HB 1 29, arguing for extra time to reinvest land‑bank proceeds. On HB 3 22, senators who supported the salary increase described judges’ workloads and the shrinking applicant pools for appointments, citing the judiciary’s recruitment challenges and low comparative pay.
The Senate adjourned to reconvene at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 24.
