The bill, S 1110, is scheduled for a hearing Monday (March 8, 2021) morning, so it is very important to act on it now. Let your representatives know. Even if your position is in line with your legislators, they need to know. Having their constituents voice their opinion gives them numbers to help with their vote. Your responses to representatives’ need be nothing more than you support or oppose a specific bill. You can certainly add reasons if you wish. Most important, let them hear from you. 

Here is a YouTube link to a 15-min. description of how to testify in the legislature created by our Advocacy Committee member. Check it out: https://youtu.be/BVflge4y3s8.

Contact information:

Find Your local representative at https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/whosmylegislator/

Act now on this one:

Bill:  S 1110   Initiative/Referendum bill

Description: This bill requires 6% votes in ALL 35 districts (currently only 18 districts are required) to get an initiative or referendum on the ballot

Bill status:  This bill was passed by the Senate and is now in the House State Affairs committee and will receive a hearing on Monday, March 8 at 9:00 am (MTN time) Here is the link to sign up to testify: Sign up to Testify

League position: Oppose – The LWVID has a position to “protect the citizen’s right to know and facilitate citizen participation in government decision-making.” The League encourages and promotes citizen-led efforts t_6o take part in our government, including getting initiatives on the ballot for all voters to vote on. This bill makes it much more difficult for any citizen-led group to propose a ballot initiative

ACTIONS Suggested:

• Sign up to testify (see link above), or
• Submit written testimony to the committee secretary by Sunday night by March 7) Secretary: Kelly Staskey
  Email: hstaf [at] house.idaho.gov
• Write to your Representatives

Talking points for S1110:

• Idaho’s Constitution guarantees the right of its citizens to propose and vote on laws through the initiative process. This bill will basically destroy one of the most fundamental grassroots actions available to regular citizens who care enough about an issue to want to see it enshrined as law.
• If the purpose of this bill is to have input from the less populated rural districts, it will also make it totally impossible for those districts to spearhead a petition-signing process. It’s important to remember that ALL Idahoans will have an opportunity to vote on an initiative even if their rural district did not propose it or collect enough signatures.
• If only one district does not qualify having 6% of its voters sign an initiative petition, absolutely NO Idahoans will have an opportunity to vote on the initiative. One district will have absolute VETO power.
• Laws should facilitate, not inhibit, citizen participation in government decision-making.
• The increasingly difficult requirements posed by this bill would make it nearly impossible for an initiative to qualify for the ballot. The only initiative to qualify for the ballot under this law will be done by large, money-backed groups, more than likely from out of state.