BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — As of July 1, the start of fiscal year 2024, more than 200 new laws are in effect.
Many of them are appropriations or budget bills. Those aside, there are still dozens of other laws now in effect.
House Bill 186-Legislation reinstating the firing squad as a means of execution when lethal injection is not available is now in effect. In recent years, the state has had challenges accessing the drugs needed to execute someone by lethal injection.
"It's important for victims, those who were murdered, their families and for the rule of law," said Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, the bill's co-sponsor, during the 2023 session.
In 1982, the firing squad became an option in Idaho, but it was never used. In 2009, it was removed.
Three people in the last 50 years have been killed by firing squad in the U.S. The latest was Ronnie Lee Gardner who was executed in Utah in 2010. He chose to be executed in that manner. Under this bill, a prisoner would not get a choice.
His brother, Randy Gardner, testified in Idaho during a public hearing.
"I mean it just ripped my brother's body apart," Gardner said. "My daughter, when she was 6-years-old, when this happened, had a shirt that said 'Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing is wrong?' and my daughter, 6-years-old, she looks at me, she reads it and goes, 'Why do we, dad? I just don't get it.' You know, I think it's very barbaric."
The department of correction still needs to set up a facility to accommodate an execution by firing squad.
House Bill 24- One of Gov. Brad Little's biggest priorities, the expansion of Idaho's Launch Program is also in effect.
The program will allows high school graduates to access $8,000 in grants to pursue in demand careers through workforce training, a college degree or a career technical certificate, starting in 2024.
"Out of the Launch program one year, you look at that person again, and say, how are you doing? The average person is now making $38,000 a year, so we've turned someone that's on the poverty level being a taker into someone who now contributes and has an opportunity to think about maybe moving out of that little apartment and maybe even purchasing a small home," Sen. Dave Lent, R-Idaho Falls, the bill's co-sponsor said.
The state's workforce development council would determine the jobs that are most in demand.
Priority for the grants would first go to kids pursuing the most in-demand careers, then to kids with the most financial need.
House Bill 213- Also education related, legislation that creates an incentive for nurses to seek employment in rural Idaho is in effect.
"Nurses are not asking for this," said Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise, during floor debate. "But this is something to get nurses out to all of your areas."
The state will provide up to $2.5 million to help up to 100 nurses working in rural or underserved areas, or in critical access hospitals repay their student debt.
The rural nursing loan repayment program sunsets in 2029.
House Bill 374- A law intended to clarify language in Idaho's criminal abortion ban is also in effect.
Under House Bill 374, there are still no exemptions for the health of the mother.
Under the bill, an abortion would not be considered the removal of a dead unborn child, the removal of an ectopic or molar pregnancy or the treatment of a woman who is no longer pregnant.
Some doctors said they reluctantly supported the bill, as it offers some improvements to the previous version.
Several medical providers said removing the affirmative defense - in favor of an objective standard - so there's a presumption of innocence was a major improvement.
Senate Bill 1100- Another law requires public schools to maintain separate bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations for girls and boys.
Rep. Ted Hill, R-Eagle, said the bill would still provide reasonable accommodation for children who are "unable or unwilling" to use the facilities that correspond with their biological sex.
"The key point about this, it's really important, is we recognize the rights of everybody," Hill said. "Then you look at the school boards. Now they have direction. They have guidance. It's what they're pleading for. They need guidance. Help us here. The vast majority of parents want this, school boards want this. This can bring peace to this topic, and I think the best part of this policy is now we can move forward and the school boards and parents can look forward to education and focus on what's really critical."
Under the law, a school could be sued if a child encountered a person of the opposite sex in a facility if the school didn't take reasonable steps to prohibit that person from using the facility.
Senate Bill 1039- Another law requires reasonable late fees for rental units and that they be written in a lease agreement.
Jesse Tree's director Sen. Ali Rabe, D-Boise, said her organization was seeing too many people being evicted over exorbitant late fees.
"Many of them are happening over $300 in fees, so basically a tenant will you know pay their rent a couple days late, they'll be charged $300 but the rent they pay is only, it's applied to the fees first and then the rent, so they can still be evicted over that $300 even if they're a few days late," said Rabe.
House Bill 138- Another law now in effect was meant to consolidate the March presidential primary with the May primary election.
The bill had a fix associated with it that ended up being held in committee. Without the fix, the legislation removes the presidential primary altogether.
Lawmakers could still call themselves back into session to fix the problem, however, the Idaho GOP decided last weekend it would establish a caucus for next year's presidential election instead.
To see all enacted legislation this year, click here.
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