Idaho House renews interim natural resources committee with public input option left to co-chairs

The Idaho House of Representatives approved House Concurrent Resolution 3 to reauthorize an interim legislative committee focused on natural resources, including fish and game, water resources and the Department of Environmental Quality.

The resolution’s sponsor said the committee is a recurring, biennial panel that “provides an opportunity for us to review issues that are happening as it relates to fish and game, Idaho water resources, DEQ, and dealing with some of these issues that tend be more complicated in the interim.” She said the panel does not take official action as a body but gives members an opportunity to hear from agencies between sessions. The sponsor also noted that public comment may be allowed at the discretion of the committee co-chairs.

The House conducted a roll call vote for the resolution because it does not expend money; the clerk announced that a majority voted in favor and the resolution passed the House. No numeric roll-call tally was provided in the floor announcement. The House then approved the title and the measure was sent to the Senate for consideration.

During the floor explanation, the sponsor described presentations heard in recent interim meetings, including remarks from Fish and Game on approaches to reducing grizzly bear–human conflict and a Department of Water Resources update on mitigation planning. The sponsor said the interim committee offers a forum to receive agency briefings and stakeholder information between regular sessions.