Idaho Senate suspends rules and adopts resolution to attend governor’s State of the State

BOISE, Idaho — Jan. 6, 2025 — The Idaho Senate voted to suspend its rules and adopted House Concurrent Resolution 1 on Tuesday, clearing the way for a joint session with the House of Representatives to hear Governor Brad Little’s State of the State address.

The Senate voted to suspend the rules required to take up HCR 1; the roll call produced 35 votes in favor, meeting the two-thirds threshold for suspension. Senator Den Hartog moved to adopt HCR 1 and, after a brief statement and no debate, the Senate adopted the resolution by voice vote.

House Chief Clerk McGinnish formally transmitted House Concurrent Resolution 1 to the Senate. The resolution, introduced in the House by Monks and Rubell, “provid[es] for a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the first regular session of the 60th Idaho Legislature for the purpose of hearing a message from the governor,” according to the transmitted text.

Senator Den Hartog told colleagues, “Members, we have the concurrent resolution in front of you inviting us over for the joint session. With that, debate is closed.” With no further debate, the presiding officer announced the ayes had it and that HCR 1 was adopted.

Before adjourning to attend the joint session, the Senate granted unanimous consent to go to the House for the governor’s message and agreed to reconvene 15 minutes after the conclusion of the State of the State. The Senate later recessed for the joint session and scheduled return to Senate business after the address.

The action is procedural: HCR 1 is an interchamber resolution that arranges the joint session and does not itself change statute or appropriations. The resolution’s stated purpose is to provide the two chambers an opportunity to hear the governor’s message to the Legislature.