Senate State Affairs committee approves multiple administrative rule dockets, including paid petition‑circulator badge and revisions to PUC and ISP rules

The Senate State Affairs Committee approved a series of administrative rule dockets presented by executive-branch agencies during a single hearing.

Rob McQuade, assistant chief deputy in the Secretary of State’s office, presented docket 34-0801-2401 establishing specifications for badges to be worn by paid petition circulators as required by last year’s Senate Bill 1377. The rule specifies a 1‑inch by 3‑inch white badge with black Arial-type font reading only “paid petition circulator,” printed at least size 24. Senator Harris moved to approve the docket and the committee approved it by voice vote.

Stephen Goodson, policy strategist for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, presented two PUC dockets. Docket 31-2101-2401 updates the PUC’s customer-relations rules and reflects a change made at the House request to replace “may” with “shall” in a section regarding pre-termination notices; Idaho Power told the commission it did not oppose that change. The committee approved 31-2101-2401 by voice vote.

Goodson also presented docket 31-4101-2401, the PUC’s telephone customer-relations rules, which was the subject of committee scrutiny because language in Section 205 (customer responsibility) appeared blue-lined in the draft and the PUC did not have an immediate explanation for that edit. Senator Adams moved to approve docket 31-4101-2401 with the exception that subsections 205 2A and 2B be stricken; the committee approved that motion by voice vote. The transcript records committee discussion about whether the deleted language had been relocated and that the PUC would follow up if necessary.

Lieutenant Colonel Russ Wheatley of the Idaho State Police presented two dockets tied to the department’s regulatory responsibilities. Docket 11-0501-2402 (a temporary rule set to address changes in Title 23 and to add certain definitions) was approved by voice vote after Mr. Wheatley explained the temporary rules were needed because the department had not completed a prior adoption before July 1. Docket 11-0501-2403, a comprehensive rewrite of alcohol beverage control rules the department said was intended to streamline and clarify licensing and premises requirements, was also approved by voice vote.

Committee members asked questions ranging from technical definitions and enforcement practices to concerns about regulatory burden on businesses. Senators pressed the PUC and Idaho State Police on specifics: Senator Shippey raised questions about partitions and building-code–type language in ABC rules intended to prevent minors’ access to alcohol; Senator Guthrie and others pressed the PUC on the “demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director” phrasing in restaurant‑licensing provisions. Presenters said they would take feedback back to their agencies and that negotiated rulemaking processes had been used for the dockets.

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Votes at a glance: docket 34-0801-2401 (paid circulator badge) — approved; docket 31-2101-2401 (PUC customer relations) — approved; docket 31-4101-2401 (PUC telephone customer relations) — approved with subsections 205 2A and 2B stricken; docket 11-0501-2402 (ISP temporary rule) — approved; docket 11-0501-2403 (ABC rules rewrite) — approved.