House State Affairs advances bill to move legal notices to state website over publishers' objections

The Idaho House State Affairs Committee voted 8-7 to send House Bill 166 to the House floor with a “do pass” recommendation after a lengthy public hearing in which newspaper publishers, county officials and the bill sponsor clashed over access, cost and archival permanence.

Sponsor Representative Jeff Ehlers, R-Meridian, told the committee the bill uses a staggered rollout: state agencies would publish notices on the proposed state site first for two years to work out issues, then local governments and other entities could follow. Ehlers said the change would produce “state savings” and estimated that Transparent Idaho currently yields about $1 million in annual savings, while building the new site would cost roughly $500,000 with ongoing annual maintenance near $300,000.

Supporters say moving notices online will save money and meet citizens where they increasingly get information. Opponents — including local publishers, the Newspaper Association of Idaho and county officials —…