Idaho House committee backs rule change restricting former legislators on floor during business

The House State Affairs Committee on Friday introduced a rule change, RS 32024, that would bar former state legislators from being on the House floor while the House is transacting official business unless they have prior approval from the speaker.

Representative Mickelson, who introduced the RS, told the committee that the change targets circumstances in which former members have taken seats on the floor during business and sometimes acted "like they were part of the body." He said the amendment would require anyone who is a "prior legislator" to obtain speaker approval to be present during floor business.

Committee members said the change is intended to reduce confusion and address situations involving former legislators who now work as lobbyists. Representative Mickelson said the change would allow the speaker to grant exceptions — for example, if a former member were invited to sit during a state-of-the-state address — but would stop routine attendance during active floor proceedings.

Representative Crane asked whether the rule would apply when the House is "at ease" and whether it would affect ceremonial guests. Mickelson replied that the restriction applies only while the House is transacting business and would not preclude guests during at-ease situations. Representative Nicholson asked whether staff would be affected; Mickelson said, "it specifically says that staff can be on the floor."

The committee considered a motion to introduce RS 32024 and for it to go to second reading; the speaker noted that sending it directly to second reading would be at the speaker's discretion. Representative Barbieri offered a substitute motion to introduce the RS; the substitute was adopted on a voice vote. The committee chair said the motion was carried and the RS would be forwarded for consideration.

The committee record does not show a roll-call tally for the substitute motion. The committee did not adopt additional language at the meeting and left the speaker with authority to grant case-by-case exceptions as described by Mickelson.

The change targets internal House rules (rule 70) rather than statute and would alter who may remain on the floor during official House business if adopted through the regular rule-change process.

The committee adjourned after completing consideration of this and subsequent items.