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Idaho becomes the only state with the firing squad as its primary method for the death penalty. Producer Ruth Brown sits down with Rep. Bruce Skaug to talk about criminal justice issues and changes to the death penalty. Then, Melissa Davlin interviews East Idaho farmer Brian Murdock about legislative investments in water recharge projects.

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Idaho Reports airs Friday at 8 p.m. on Idaho Public Television

Senate pauses bill to give counties control over hospital property tax exemption

Senators want to take a closer look at a House bill that would grant county commissioners direct control over which specific hospital properties qualify for property tax exemptions.

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Senate committee advances death penalty bill for lewd conduct cases

The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee passed a bill Wednesday that would make the crime of lewd conduct with a child younger than age 12 with aggravating circumstances potentially punishable by death.

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House panel passes bill to take over firefighting on federal lands

The House Resources and Conservation Committee unanimously advanced a bill that would use state firefighting resources on federal lands and then seek repayment in court.

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This week on the podcast:

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Counting Your Chickens

Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, wants to allow all Idahoans — even those in communities with covenants or HOA rules — to raise chickens on their property. She sat down with Logan Finney to discuss the bill and its path through the statehouse.

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House advances bill to revoke public services for undocumented people

The bill eliminates access to some short-term shelter, and food assistance programs such as SNAP, as well as soup kitchens and food pantry programs that accept state funds.

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Gov. Brad Little signs bill to let Idaho doctors refuse care if it violates beliefs

Idaho Capital Sun: The bill takes effect immediately, through an emergency clause. It prevents health care professionals from being forced to participate in nonemergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.

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In case you missed it:

North Idaho legislators bring bill to add health exceptions to state’s abortion ban

Idaho Capital Sun: Under Idaho’s abortion ban, a physician may provide an abortion if it’s to “prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” However, providers have said this does not make it clear if physicians can provide an abortion to prevent detrimental health outcomes.

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Consensus plan emerges to rework the WWAMI bill

Idaho Education News: The multi-state medical school program has balked at adding more Idaho seats, even after a resolution in 2022 urging them to do so. The university also was slow to attest that no Idaho tax dollars go into abortion training. On Thursday, a UW medical school administrator was contrite about both issues.

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