Environment (Forestry)

HJR 10 proposes a constitutional amendment to Idaho's Article IX, Section 8, changing how state-owned lands must be managed. It would require the state board of land commissioners to prioritize revenue-generating activities (like timber sales, mining, and grazing) over public access for recreation, hunting, fishing, and trapping, as long as access doesn't interfere with revenue operations. The amendment also sets specific limits: no land sales below appraised value, maximum annual sales of 100 sections (640 acres each), and no single buyer can purchase more than 320 acres at a time. This is a procedural proposal requiring voter approval at the next general election.

This proposed constitutional amendment would change how Idaho manages state-owned lands by prioritizing revenue-generating activities (like leasing or timber sales) before public access for recreation, hunting, and fishing. It requires that any state land sale must meet or exceed appraised value, limits annual land sales to 100 parcels (each max 320 acres), and creates a dedicated fund to maintain public lands using revenue from these activities. The amendment affects state land management practices, public access rights, and future land transactions. It requires voter approval at the next general election to take effect.

This is a Joint Memorial (not a bill), passed by the Idaho Legislature, calling on the federal government to protect livestock operators who report wildlife depredation (attacks by wolves or bears on livestock). It asks the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Interior to stop using depredation reports as a reason to modify or revoke federal grazing permits. The memorial states that Idaho ranchers fear reporting attacks due to potential federal retaliation, even though the state provides compensation for livestock losses. It directly affects Idaho livestock operators with federal grazing permits on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. The request seeks a federal policy change to allow ranchers to report depredation without risking their grazing rights.