HB 658 is Sent to Senate Amending Order

HB 658 was met with more opposition in the Senate Committee.

MARCH 14- Another lengthy testimony for HB 658 has led to another twist in this saga. The bill is being sent to the 14th Order where amendments to the bill will be considered and debated.

This hearing the bill was met with opposition from Mayors, the Idaho Police Chiefs Association, the Idaho Sheriffs Association, the Idaho Gem Club, lawyers, sportsmen groups, and citizens. Perhaps the most compelling testimonies came from law enforcement describing the “chaos” this bill will create with frivolous lawsuits and the need to respond to “benign behavior”.

Every single testimony, including all those against, agreed that laws protecting private property can use some updating. Yet still, no one can answer why the funding necessary to implement the bill should come from Idaho Fish and Game. And still, no one can answer to the reasonableness of a one-way fee shifting provision which will not allow a recreationist proven innocent to recuperate legal defense fees.

In the Amending Order every single amendment must be considered and debated. Considering the amount of problems raised with this bill, there will be a lot of amendments to debate. We’re at the end of the line folks. We are keeping up the pressure, and we will let you know the next move.