House Bill 236 and Next Steps
Governor Little recently held a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 236, capping off a two-session process to transition from a county-based public defense system to a state-based public defense system. While House Bill 236 was actually signed in March, the Governor wanted to recognize the efforts of county officials and public defenders in coming …
What to Watch: Week of March 13, 2023
This week, we have three bills that we are tracking very closely. Two are bills that we support, regarding public defense and vape tax, and one is a bill that we oppose. Last Thursday, the State Public Defender Act (House Bill 236) passed the House. It is scheduled for a full hearing in Senate Judiciary …
From the Executive Director: Week of February 27, 2023
Compromise Reached on Public Defense Legislation Late last week, stakeholders reached a tentative compromise on legislation establishing a new public defense delivery model effective October 1, 2024. Under the framework, counties will be relieved of all obligations to provide public defense. Those counties that currently contract for public defense, will continue to have contract public …
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From the Executive Director: Week of February 14
As we enter the sixth week of the 2022 Legislative Session, the number of introduced bills has increased significantly. In spite of these increases, very few bills have advanced having an impact on counties. The chart below is a good comparison of recent bill introduction history through the first five weeks of the legislative session. …
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From the Executive Director: Week of February 7
Thanks to everyone who attended our IAC Midwinter Legislative Conference last week. We had great dialogue with Governor Little and legislators. It’s an annual highlight for me and I’m sure you all feel the same. At the conference, we spent considerable time in IAC committees and general sessions immersed in conversations about two important issues: …
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ACLU appeals dismissal of public defense lawsuit
The ACLU of Idaho has filed a notice of appeal in its lawsuit charging that Idaho’s public defense system is constitutionally deficient, after a judge last Friday dismissed the case. Click to read more from Eye on Boise.