Idaho House passes bill to extend AG investigative authority to city officials

The Idaho House of Representatives passed House Bill 6 on Jan. 21 to extend the attorney general’s investigative reach to include city officials, supporters said. The bill passed the House by voice vote and recorded totals: 56 ayes, 11 nays and 3 members absent or excused.

Proponents told the House the measure would align city-level oversight with authority granted in 2014 for county officials. A sponsor described the bill as expanding an existing investigative role the attorney general exercises when whistleblowers forward complaints.

“The state of Idaho approved the AG’s expanded powers to look into county officials. House Bill 6 would also allow for [the AG] to look into city officials,” the sponsor said on the House floor, arguing the office already operates under counsel arrangements when complaints move through prosecutors.

Clerks recorded individual roll calls during the vote; Representative Taylor was recorded voting aye and Representative Eggbert recorded a nay before the clerk certified the tally. With the majority achieved, the House approved the bill’s title and transmitted the measure to the Senate.

No amendments or alternative enforcement mechanisms were recorded on the floor. The sponsor asked the House for consent to suspend further reading of the bill before floor debate; the request was granted.

The bill’s supporters said federal or other external authorities were not being invoked; debate on the House floor focused on the scope of the attorney general’s existing authority and extending it to municipal officials. The House did not record further committee-level changes during the floor action.

The House transmitted House Bill 6 to the Senate after approval; the chamber did not set an effective date on the floor.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 6 — Passed, 56 ayes, 11 nays, 3 absent/excused; title approved and bill transmitted to the Senate.