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H 148 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

CONSTITUTIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL – Adds to existing law to provide assistance to individuals litigating against the federal government.

H 148 creates Idaho's Constitutional Defense Council to assist residents facing federal lawsuits over grazing or water rights. It allows Idaho citizens to request state-funded legal help, including private counsel, fee reimbursement, or Attorney General representation, through a formal application process. The Council must review requests within 30 days, considering factors like public benefit, societal importance, and available resources before deciding. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects Idaho residents involved in federal cases concerning these specific land-use issues.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed Apr 4, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2025 · House Feb 21, 2025

How they voted

29–4
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 34
Apr 1, 2025
D Democratic5
1 Yea 4 Nay
80% Nay
R Republican29
28 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
7
Committee
3
Apr 4, 2025
Signed into law
Reported Signed by Governor on April 14, 2025 Session Law Chapter 324 Effective: 07/01/2025
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full – PASSED - 29-5-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke, Blaylock, Carlson, Coho(Lenney), Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, Wintrow, Woller(Rabe)Absent and excused – BurtenshawFloor Sponsor - LakeyTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 63-5-2AYES – Achilles, Alfieri, Andrus, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Clow, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Horman, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott,
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.