Idaho Senate Commerce committee advances construction choice-of-law bill, updates safety and licensing rules

The Idaho Senate Commerce Committee on an undated meeting day advanced a bill that would require construction projects in Idaho to be governed by Idaho law and approved administrative rule changes affecting elevator standards, school building safety inspections, logging safety rules and damage-prevention oversight.

Senate Bill 1006, which proponents described as a "choice-of-law" backstop for private construction contracts, was sent to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation after brief testimony and a voice vote by the committee. Todd Leahy, State Senator for District 23, told the committee the measure is intended to prevent out-of-state choice-of-law provisions in contracts for projects built in Idaho: "If the project is being built here in Idaho then it's subject to Idaho law and subject to Idaho jurisdiction," Leahy said.

The committee also approved RS31866, a revision tied to last year’s House Bill 490 that clarifies when fingerprint-based criminal background checks are required for counselors and therapists. Senator Mark Harris (Legislative District 35) said the resolution would make those checks discretionary "only when the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses determines that it's necessary," explaining that the fingerprint requirement had been tied to an interstate compact that did not pass.

Why it matters: SB1006 would limit attempts by contract drafters to force Idaho construction projects…