Idaho Legislature hopes to wrap up Friday

The push for finishing the Idaho legislative session under the shadow of the coronavirus has driven lawmakers to set a Friday goal to wrap up the business of the state.

“I have had multiple comments with legislative leadership,” Gov. Brad Little said. “I think it’s their intent get out of town today.”

That depends, however, on how many appropriations can make it to the governor’s desk.

“I expect us to wrap up all legislation by the end of business today,” Rep. Paul Amador said Wednesday.

He said due to an Idaho Supreme Court case from a couple of years ago, legislators cannot officially ‘Sine Die’ until all bills have been transmitted to the governor, which takes some time.

“So we’ll probably recess until Friday afternoon, when we will come back and take the official step to end the session,” Amador said.

The ‘Sine Die’ references the official move to end a session. It’s a process that gets closer and closer with each passing bill.

“Just this morning, I got a few bills on my desk,” he said. “I’ve been trying to process those bills as fast as possible.”

While Little emphasized he would not rubber-stamp the process, he also said cooperation during trying times was critical.

“I will not be an impediment in that process,” he said.

Amador reported that all bills were now in possession of both the House and Senate. All committees have shut down, which he believed would expedite the process.

“It is merely a matter of time for us to clear our reading calendars and transmit bills back and forth between the House and Senate,” the Coeur d’Alene representative said, “and then get them off to the governor.”