Concealed weapon bill nears completion

COEUR d’ALENE — As this year’s legislative session winds down through its final week, many bills are facing their final fate.

Some bills that weren’t expected to get much attention, like SB 1389 which will allow Idahoans to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, are likely to be sent to the governor as early as today.

While other bills that seemed to be on track for passage early in the session have run into problems and don’t look like they're going to make it through the process this year.

The urban renewal bill that came out of the House Interim Committee on Urban Renewal was sent to the amending order of the House to be changed, which has been done on several occasions since it was introduced early in the session.

Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, said he believes the constitutional carry bill will go up for a vote as early as today, but added it could be held until Monday.

“I am going to vote in favor of it,” he said.

Rep. Don Cheatham, R-Post Falls, said he supports the concealed carry bill as well.

“I have seen several version of gun bills come through, but this one had the best sideboards on it,” he said, adding support from the Idaho Sheriff’s Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Rifle Association helped him make up his mind as well. “That’s why I went ahead and pulled the trigger on that one.”

Malek said the push is on to clear the deck of pending legislation before the Easter weekend, when lawmakers want to head home and begin campaigning for the May 17 primary elections.

He said expanding Medicaid is not going to happen this year either, but Malek said there could be a temporary fix in the works that would provide primary care for the Medicaid gap population and keep them out of the emergency rooms.

Malek said any permanent fix to the Medicaid gap population is at least 18 months out. The Medicaid gap population is estimated to be nearly 78,000 Idahoans who can't afford insurance, but can’t qualify for the state exchange’s subsidized insurance or Medicaid.

Malek explained the state would have to get a waiver from the federal government if it wants to do a modified Medicaid expansion that is palatable to the Legislature.

Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Post Falls, said there was a little controversy surrounding a bill he heard testimony on Thursday that would allow the Bible and other religious texts to be used as a resource materials in public schools.

Mendive said a deputy attorney general gave the committee his opinion on the bill, which initially was considered unconstitutional.

But, he said, the author of the bill agreed to amend the bill to remove the unconstitutional language.

“The AG had her change some of the language, and she agreed to amend it,” Mendive said. “So the bill passed with only four no-votes.”

Mendive said the pace is certainly picking up, but he is not sure they will be able to meet their Thursday adjournment timeline.

“We’ve got a lot of ground to cover between now and then,” he said. “It is going to be tough, but I guess we can hope to get it done.”

Cheatham, who sits on the House State Affairs Committee, said the committee decided to send Rep. Eric Redman’s “American law” bill to the amending order of the House as well.

“The committee had several issues that needed to be fixed with amendments,” Cheatham said. “I guess it could still make it, but I am not sure it can be back by next week.”

In other business, Malek said, two broadband bills have been passed, which will provide funding for broadband infrastructure throughout the state.

“I think together they provide about $27 million for infrastructure next year,” he said.