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House Ways and Means committee introduces bill defining domestic terrorism with felony threshold
Summary
Rep. Doug Pickett introduced RS 32427C1 to define "domestic terrorism" in Idaho law, removing an affiliation link to foreign terrorist organizations and tying the definition to violent felony offenses; the committee voted to introduce the RS amid requests for clearer scope and examples.
Representative Doug Pickett introduced RS 32427C1, a proposal he described as a "due process bill" that would define domestic terrorism in Idaho law and restrict that label to people convicted of specified felony offenses.
Pickett said the draft removes a tie to foreign terrorist organizations, narrows the definition to "activities conducted within or that take effect within the geographical boundaries of the state of Idaho that constitute a felony offense, that involve violent acts or threats specifically intended to harm human life, and that otherwise intimidate, cause, or influence, or disrupt," and includes a provision that a person is a domestic terrorist only if convicted under the section.
Pickett said the measure is intended to protect ordinary political expression and prevent citizens from being flagged as extremists solely because their image appeared at the same place as a violent actor. "Even foreign terrorists know that they're on a list. American citizens ... are not aware that they're being observed or that they might be considered to be a domestic terrorist," Pickett said.
The bill drew questions from members who sought clarity on scope and how the statute would treat nonfelony intimidation or disruption. Representative Melissa Wintrow Birch asked why intimidation, coercion, influence or disruption must be a felony to fall under the definition; she said she wants more detail on "how far can someone go to intimidate, coerce, influence and so forth, and it not be a felony offense." Pickett replied the intent was to exclude minor or noncriminal acts and to reserve the domestic-terrorism label for conduct that "would rise to that level of a felony offense."
Representative Monks moved to introduce RS 32427C1; the committee voted to introduce the RS by voice vote.
If advanced to a formal hearing, members signaled they expect requests for clearer statutory language and real-world examples to guide line-drawing between protected speech and the violent conduct the sponsor said the bill targets.
The committee adjourned with the RS printed for future consideration.
