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Ways and Means introduces RS32365 to direct idle-mine license tax toward abandoned-mine reclamation; committee debates advisory-panel makeup
Summary
The Idaho House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 22, 2025 introduced RS32365, a proposal to direct idle mine license tax revenues to the Abandoned Mine Land Fund, require reclamation spending priorities and an annual Department of Lands report, and establish a seven‑member advisory committee.
The Idaho House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 22, 2025 introduced RS32365, a proposal to direct idle mine license tax revenues to the Abandoned Mine Land Fund, clarify reclamation spending requirements, require an annual progress report from the Department of Lands, and establish a seven‑member advisory committee to guide eligible sites and reclamation activities.
The measure's sponsor, Representative David Manwaring, said the resolution "deals with the idle mine license tax and how it's distributed to the abandoned mine land fund" and would allow voluntary contributions from new or expanded mine operations to support reclamation. He told the committee the bill also "clarifies how much must be spent on reclamation and prioritizes sites needing action" and directs the department to provide an annual report on progress.
The bill matters because it ties a funding stream for reclamation to a formal prioritization and oversight mechanism. "If this works the way it should ... I think you'll see that it could be a useful tool in reopening some of those mines," Manwaring said, describing the bill as a tool for both reclamation and future development conditions.
Representative Aquiles raised concerns about the advisory committee's membership, saying "3 representatives from mining organizations or companies seems like we may not have the public's voice there." Aquiles suggested replacing one industry slot with an additional county commissioner to increase local public representation. Manwaring said the draft already includes representatives from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and conservation interests and said the sponsor believes the public is represented in the composition as drafted.
Representative Birch asked how the proposal would interact with large mine development plans that include reclamation. Manwaring said the fund could be a useful tool for reclamation activities and conditions attached to development, but he did not identify specific statutory changes beyond those in the RS.
The committee voted to introduce RS32365 after a motion by Representative Monks. The motion carried and the RS was introduced for further consideration; no final policy or appropriation was adopted at the Ways and Means meeting.
Votes at the meeting were recorded as procedural introductions: Representative Monks moved to introduce RS32365 and the committee approved the motion.
