In this week's newsletter:

Lawmakers approve workforce grants and public defense overhaul

JFAC co-chairs alerted attorney general to IDHW grant concerns

Senate committee considering alternate library obscenity bills

House approves budgets for higher education, libraries commission

Bill to require pornography filters narrowly rejected by Senate

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

Budget committee chairs alerted AG Labrador to potential IDHW grant violations

The co-chairs of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee alerted Attorney General Raúl Labrador in February to concerns they had over the way the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare doled out grants, flagging potential violations to Idaho code.

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Legislature approves public defense overhaul

A multi-year effort to redesign Idaho’s public defense system from the ground up passed the Senate on Thursday. The bill to create an Office of the State Public Defender now advances to the governor’s desk.

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Higher education budget passes the House

These budgets have been controversial on the House floor the past several years with concerns about programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.

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Third Medicaid budget passes committee

Thursday’s budget is largely the same as the bill passed Wednesday, with two major changes: it removes $2.2 million for cost containment implementation, and adds $500,000 from the Millennium Income Fund to establish a task force to make recommendations for a Medicaid managed care program.

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House passes libraries appropriation

The House passed a $11.8 million appropriation for the Idaho Commission for Libraries on Wednesday afternoon, sidestepping policy debates that have centered on libraries and content over the last year.

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Senate committee considers alternative library bills

While one library obscenity bill awaits amendments, the Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony Thursday on a new bill that would include establishing citizens’ boards for local libraries with law enforcement and religious representatives.

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Follow Idaho Reports for updates throughout the week

House approves funds to build a firing squad facility

The House in a 48-19 vote on Thursday approved a supplemental appropriation of $850,000 for the Idaho Department of Correction, sending the bill to the Senate.

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Senate narrowly rejects pornography filter bill

A manufacturer would have been subject to civil and criminal liability if their device did not include a filter and a minor used it to access harmful materials. Individuals who knowingly disabled a filter to allow a child to access harmful materials would be liable for a misdemeanor and up to a $1,000 fine on the first offense.

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Idaho Launch bill heads to Gov. Brad Little

The Idaho Senate passed the Idaho Launch expansion on Wednesday, sending it to the governor’s desk. Senators also passed a companion bill to makes changes to the program, which now goes to the House.

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