Idaho Reports airs Friday at 8 pm on Idaho Public Television.

Public defense lawsuit dismissed as state takes over from counties

The Idaho Legislature passed bills in 2022 and 2023 that seriously changed the way the state handles public defense. But those changes only came after the Idaho Supreme Court in 2021 unanimously found the state's county-based public defense system to be problematic following years of litigation in Tucker v Idaho.

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House committee passes bill to re-establish Maternal Mortality Review Committee

“There was a conscious effort to avoid Health and Welfare when it came to drafting this bill because of the continued problems we have with data collection," said House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma. "I would point to some of it as far as how our Medicaid system is running right now, and our inability to get data out of Health and Welfare in a timely manner.”

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Senate passes electioneering boundary bill

The Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that would increase the distance from the polls where voters and campaigns are not allowed to solicit signatures or rally support for candidates or measures on the ballot from 100 feet to 250 feet.

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Pesticide labeling bill draws controversy in committee

Sen. Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs, sponsored a bill he says is intended to clarify that existing pesticide labeling already required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sufficient under state law for health and safety warnings.

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Senate committee passes bill to protect public land and water access

State lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday that seeks to protect public access to Idaho’s lands and waters if a local government decides to vacate a roadway.

If a public right-of-way provides access to state or federal public lands or waters, Senate Bill 1258 would require counties and highway districts to obtain equivalent replacement access for the public before deciding to vacate it.

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Idaho Supreme Court hears Creech’s case for stay

As Thomas Creech is less than a month away from his scheduled execution date, Deputy Attorney General LaMont Anderson deemed arguments before the Idaho Supreme Court a last resort, like a hail Mary pass in a football game.

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