Committee backs bill to raise Idaho attorney license fees

Dustin Manwaring, a state representative from Pocatello, told the committee that Senate Bill 1030 would increase annual license fees for Idaho attorneys to support the Idaho State Bar’s oversight functions. "This Senate Bill 10 30 is a raise in license fees for Idaho attorneys," Manwaring said, noting the fee is administrative and not funded by general-tax dollars.

The measure would impose a $60 annual increase for actively licensed lawyers, a $30 annual increase for newer lawyers and smaller increases of $10–$20 for other categories, Maureen Braley, executive director of the Idaho State Bar, told the committee. "It is a modest increase. Actively licensed lawyers will see a $60 annual increase. Newer lawyers will see a $30 annual increase," Braley said, adding the bar uses the fees to fund required operations under state law and is not using the additional revenue to expand new programs.

Braley said the increase follows a member survey last fall in which about 63% of responding attorneys approved raising the fee; she also told the committee the last time the fee was increased was 2011. "We are self funded by member license fees and don't use taxpayer dollars," she said.

A committee member moved to send Senate Bill 1030 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation. The motion passed; a single nay vote was recorded during the voice vote. The committee did not provide a roll-call tally in the transcript record.

The bill’s proponents said the funding would support the bar’s statutorily required duties including administering the bar examination and handling compensations related to lawyer misconduct. The committee recorded no public testimony for or against the bill at the committee hearing.

The committee’s approval sends the bill to the next stage of floor consideration; the bill text and any amendments approved by the committee will be considered by the full chamber.