Monica Carrillo-Casas, March 13, 2023
This has been a busy week for Idaho and it seems it won't die down anytime soon.
Here are top news in Idaho legislation that could have an impact in communities statewide:
Senate Bill 1081: More than just a driver’s license
Although divided, the Idaho Legislature’s Senate Transportation Committee voted Tuesday, February 28, 2023, to advance the bill that would allow folks over the age of 16 to get a restricted driver’s license, regardless of their immigration status.
According to the Idaho Capital Sun, Senate Bill 1081 was sponsored by Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, who has worked on this issue for years trying to give undocumented families a solution.
In addition, PODER of Idaho, an organization that works to empower Latino and #immigrant communities, presented a petition with 8,000 signatures supporting the bill.
With arguments in support of Senate Bill 1081, many who spoke in front of the legislators believe that not only would this bill make the roads safer for all Idahoans, but would provide more driver’s to legally drive and obtain insurance.
In order to obtain a restricted license, it is stated and required the following: drivers would have to live in Idaho; they have to pass a driving skills and written test; they must be of legal driving age; they must have proof of identity with a passport, birth certificate, consular ID card or another form of identification issued by a foreign government or Native American tribe.
The committee sent the bill without recommendation and could reach the Senate floor for a vote sooner than anticipated.
HB 242: “abortion trafficking” bill passed in the state of Idaho
Days following, The Idaho House State Affairs Committee passed a bill March 3, 2023 that makes it illegal for an adult to drive a minor across state lines for an abortion, with the intent to hide it from a parent or guardian of the minor.
If caught, the penalty would be between two to five years.
HB 242 was sponsored by Reps. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, and Kevin Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs.
HB 124: Removing a students right to vote
March 9, Idaho Senate voted toward eliminating student IDs as a form of identification in Idaho elections.
If Gov. Brad Little approves the bill, students in an Idaho high school, university, or technical school will not be able to use their school ID as a way to vote.
In that case, the only acceptable forms of identification that a voter could use would be the following:
An Idaho driver’s license or an identification card issued by the Idaho Transportation Department.
A U.S. passport or a photo ID card issued by an agency of the U.S. government,
A tribal photo identification card.
A license to carry concealed weapons, or an enhanced license to carry concealed weapons.
Because only 104 people used their student IDs to vote in November 2022, Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, sponsor this bill to remove this form of identification in polling places.
Idaho Senate voted 28-7 for HB 124, according to the Idaho Capital Sun.
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