JRA committee introduces four bills on shelter consent, adoptee records, retired trainers and single‑sex spaces

The Idaho House Judiciary, Rules and Administration committee on Monday introduced four requests for legislation that the panel will consider at future hearings: RS31871 on minor consent to shelter care, RS31951 on adoptee access to birth records, RS31952 allowing retired instructors to train, and RS31994 protecting single‑sex spaces.

The most contested item was RS31994, introduced by Representative Ehart, which would specify protections for “single‑sex” or women‑only spaces in prisons, domestic violence shelters and certain university settings. Representative Ehart said the measure “continues to protect women's single *** spaces,” and asked the committee to send the RS forward for a hearing. Representative Mathias warned it risks “turning average Idahoans into bathroom police,” and Representative Gannon said the civil‑action language as written could encourage litigation because it awards attorneys’ fees to a prevailing plaintiff without a reciprocal loser‑pays provision. Representative Rubel raised safety and fiscal concerns, saying the proposal “doesn’t provide any provision for a transgender bathroom” and could prompt costly lawsuits. The committee voted to introduce RS31994 by voice vote; a formal hearing was scheduled for a later date.

Representative Ehart also brought RS31951, which she described as granting parity to…