Senate State Affairs panel advances amendment to require initiative signatures from every legislative district, 4–3

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 4–3 on Feb. 7 to send SJR 101, a proposed constitutional amendment, to the full Senate.

Senator Brian Okuniewicz introduced SJR 101 as a measure that would require any referendum or initiative petition to be signed by at least 6% of legal voters in each legislative district. Okuniewicz said the proposal is intended to prevent out-of-state special-interest groups from influencing Idaho’s laws by concentrating signatures in a few population centers.

The measure would not change the total number of signatures required across the state, Okuniewicz said; instead it would require those signatures be spread across all legislative districts. Committee members discussed the legal history: the Idaho Supreme Court in 2021 struck down a similar statute as unconstitutional, and members debated whether the proposed amendment raised the same problems. Okuniewicz told the committee legislative attorneys found no constitutional issue with the resolution.

Public testimony was sharply divided. Ryan McGoldrick of Conservation Voters for Idaho told the committee that the initiative process is already difficult and that raising district-by-district thresholds could increase reliance on paid signature gatherers, inviting more outside money. Dr. Jean Henscheid of the League of Women Voters of Idaho said the organization opposed the change, arguing it would infringe on citizens’ ability to participate directly in lawmaking. In favor, Thad Butterworth representing the Ada County Republican Party cited concerns about rural participation and said the party’s platform supports initiative reform. Branden Durst of Poll Idaho said a recent poll his organization conducted found 54% of likely Idaho voters supported a requirement for signatures in all legislative districts and 23.6% opposed; Durst noted a margin of error of about 4.6% and that the sample skewed slightly left compared with the electorate.

During debate, senators asked whether additional costs for signature collection and verification would fall to grassroots volunteers or require paid staff. Chairman Guthrie said placing measures on the ballot can cost “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” a point raised as part of the broader concern about outside money influencing campaigns. Opponents argued the proposal risked denying feasible access to initiatives for motivated local coalitions.

Senator Den Hartog moved to send SJR 101 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation; Senator Toews seconded. The committee took a roll-call vote: Senators Shippy, Adams, Den Hartog and Harris voted yes; Senators Ruchti, Vice Chairman Bernt and Chairman Guthrie voted no. The motion carried 4–3.

Next steps: SJR 101 will be carried to the Senate floor for further consideration and any subsequent floor debate or amendment.