House Business Committee introduces several bills on licensing, title insurance and virtual inspections

BOISE, Idaho — The House Business Committee introduced a package of legislative requests (RSs) on Tuesday that would change rules on mortgage solicitation, married persons’ ability to sell sole-and-separate property, state title-insurance policy, occupational-licensing reporting, licensing-board finances, electrician reciprocity and virtual inspections. Committee members moved to introduce each RS and the motions carried on voice votes.

The measures were presented one at a time and most drew limited debate; the committee voted to introduce each RS so the proposal can receive a formal hearing at a later date. Several presenters said subject-matter experts will appear if the committee grants a full hearing.

Representative Bruce presented RS32003, described as a privacy measure aimed at mortgage-trigger leads. Representative Bruce said: "This bill seeks to amend chapter 31 title 26 of Idaho code by adding a new section 26 dash 31 to 11 a aimed at enhancing consumer privacy in the mortgage applications." He told the committee the measure would define "mortgage trigger lead" and prohibit certain solicitation practices; it would require callers who purchased leads to tell consumers they are not the consumer's current lender and that they purchased the lead. The committee voted to introduce RS32003.

Representative John Shirts introduced RS31937, a proposal that would amend a provision of Idaho law cited in the presentation as "Bridal code section 50 five-one thousand and 7," to allow a married person to sell or encumber property they individually own as sole-and-separate property without requiring a spouse’s consent.…