Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Outfitters Licensing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Idaho committee advances bill to align postsecondary institutions with outfitter licensing rules
Summary
The Senate Resources Committee voted to send House Bill 15 to the floor after testimony that the measure would allow state public and private colleges to be treated the same as other institutions when conducting instructional outings on state waterways.
House Bill 15 would allow accredited public and private postsecondary institutions to operate on state-owned waterways without seeking an outfitter's license in the same way other institutions are currently treated. The Senate Resources and Environment Committee voted to send the bill to the Senate floor with a “do pass” recommendation after brief testimony.
Rep. Doug Ricks, R‑District 34, told the committee HB 15 aims to put all higher-education institutions on equal footing when they take students on instructional or recreational trips on state-managed waterways. “This would allow students studying at BYU‑Idaho to have the same academic opportunities as other students studying at universities in the state of Idaho,” Ricks said, while clarifying the bill does not affect federal waterway permits.
Morris Christensen, representing Brigham Young University‑Idaho, told the committee the university requires travel on public and state lands for some degree programs and that BYU‑Idaho intends to use any exemption only for its student body, not the general public. “BYU‑Idaho continues to be responsible public‑land users,” Christensen said, adding the institution aims to follow state and federal permit processes and professional safety standards.
Committee members asked no technical questions during testimony. Senator Van Orden moved to send HB 15 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; Senator Hart seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.
If enacted, the bill would change state licensing practice for state‑accredited and privately accredited postsecondary institutions as specified in the bill text, but it would not alter federal permitting requirements for navigable or federally managed waterways.
