We are finally hearing bills in committee and on the floor.  Some have been controversial like House Bill 63 which bars medical gender interference before the age of 18. This bill was heard in the judicial rules committee.  I am fortunate to be on this committee.  The debate was fascinating as experts and parents on either side of the issue debated passionately.   In the end we sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation.  On the house floor debate, it will just be the representatives. No outside presenters. If it passes there it will go to a senate committee and then to the full senate.  From the full senate it will go to the governor for his signature.   Then it may be tested in court if there is any doubt of its legality.  When you consider all of this you realize that our founding fathers wanted many checks and balances to insure good representation of the people in the legislative process.

We also had plenty of action in the same committee on the bill to make fentanyl position of certain volumes a mandatory minimum jail sentence.  We presently have the mandatory minimums for Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, Methamphetamines.   I didn’t look up the minimums, but it is a strong sentence for each.  There were many who testified that mandatory minimum sentencing with out the judges being able to judge and use discretion was too harsh.  Other felt strongly that the sentencing minimums keep many traffickers from coming into Idaho.  In the end the bill was sent back to the chairman for further review and possible changes.  Many of the mandatory sentences are first time offenders and have no record. One thing being discussed is allowing judges discretion on first time offenders with possession amounts that meet the trafficking minimums.

We will be talking about it more this week as we try to have a just bill and protect the public.  I think it is possible to find such a compromise.  It will be a fun discussion.  

There have been some fun bills coming from the freshman in the house.  One has passed the floor.   allowing young drivers to drive from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. This is a change of the current law of half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset.  I liked this idea.  There is also a bill coming to the house floor that allows parents to teach their children how to drive.  They will still need some class time that they can find online or by book, but the parents can teach the actual driving.  It will be before the entire house of Representatives by the middle of this week.

Long story short it is a fascinating process.  It makes me proud to be an Idahoan and represent all of you in Oneida County.  If you have comments or questions email me at [email protected].  Thank you for the opportunity to serve.