Idaho Senate refers several bills, holds gubernatorial appointments and forwards resolution rejecting pay rates

The Idaho State Senate on Thursday referred newly introduced bills to committee, placed multiple gubernatorial appointments on hold for one legislative day and advanced a concurrent resolution rejecting proposed legislative compensation rates, senators said during the brief floor session.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 101, introduced by the State Affairs Committee and described on the floor as "a concurrent resolution stating findings of the legislature, and rejecting the rates of legislative compensation set by the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation," was read by number and referred for printing and further processing, senators said.

The action came alongside first readings and referrals for several bills. Senate Bill 1,002 was referred to the Transportation Committee. Senate Bill 1,003, sponsored by the Resources and Environment Committee and described as "an act relating to fish and game, to provide that certain persons shall not be eligible to apply for any fishing, hunting, or trapping licenses, tags, or permits, and to provide an exception," and Senate Bill 1,004, introduced by Senator Wintrow and described as a civil-rights measure to provide that freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity is a civil right, were ordered referred to the Judiciary and Rules Committee for printing.

Committees also reported gubernatorial appointments and recommended confirmation; the appointments were referred to the tenth order of business and "held for 1 legislative day," according to the floor statements. The committee reports and referrals named: - Rob Perez, appointed to the Treasurer's Investment Advisory Board, term to expire 07/01/2028, recommended for confirmation by the State Affairs Committee (Guthrie, chairman). The appointment was referred and held for one legislative day. - Brent Baker and Mark Brinkmeyer, appointed to the Lake Pend Oreille Basin Commission, terms to expire 07/24/2026, recommended for confirmation by the Resources and Environment Committee (Burton Shaw, chairman). Both appointments were referred and held for one legislative day. - Kirk Nelson, appointed to the Offender Management Board, term to expire 01/01/2027, recommended for confirmation by the Judiciary and Rules Committee (Lakey, chairman). The appointment was referred and held for one legislative day. - Alex Adams, appointed as director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, term to continue "with the pleasure of the governor," recommended for confirmation by the Health and Welfare Committee (Van Orden, chair). The appointment was referred and held for one legislative day.

Senators used unanimous-consent procedures multiple times during the short session to move through routine business. The session included routine items such as roll call, reading and correction of the journal for Jan. 15, committee reports, a letter from Governor Brad Little transmitting additional gubernatorial appointments pursuant to Title 67, Section 803 of Idaho Code, and member announcements about scheduled events at the Capitol. After the miscellaneous-business period, the Senate recessed on a motion to adjourn and will reconvene at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17.

The floor record shows no final confirmation votes or enacted legislation in this sitting; the actions taken were referrals, readings, and holds pending further consideration by committees and future floor action.