Idaho Senate adopts resolution rejecting 22% legislative pay increase set by citizens committee

The Idaho Senate on Jan. 17, 2025 adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 101, voting by voice to reject the rate of compensation and expense set by the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation and transmitting the resolution to the Idaho House of Representatives.

Senator Zito, who moved adoption of the resolution, opened debate by citing the Idaho Constitution and the committee process that sets legislative pay. "The Idaho constitution does not allow [the legislature] to vote for a pay increase," Zito said, referencing Article III, Section 23 and the constitutional authority that allows a citizens committee to set legislative rates and permits the Legislature only to reject or reduce those rates by concurrent resolution prior to the 25th legislative day.

The debate centered on whether the committee’s recommendation — described in the chamber as a roughly 22% increase, or about $5,087 annually per legislator — was appropriate amid current…