Committee advances bill to let constitutional defense council consider state help for grazing and water-rights suits

BOISE

The Idaho House Resource and Conservation Committee on an unrecorded voice vote agreed to send House Bill 148 to the House floor with a "do pass" recommendation after a lengthy discussion on when and how the state could assist private parties in litigation against the federal government over grazing or water rights.

The bill, sponsored on the floor by Representative Bruce, would "outline the process for Idaho citizens involved in legal proceedings with the federal government concerning grazing and or water rights to request state assistance from the constitutional defense fund," Bruce told the committee. He said the measure "specifies the criteria, the procedures for the constitutional defense council to consider such request and provide details on types of assistance offered."

The bill drew immediate questions about fiscal exposure and whether the measure would apply retroactively. Representative Andrews noted the fiscal note says the fund already exists and asked if…