On February 14th, the Senate Chamber engaged in a debate on S1258, addressing the procedural aspects of vacation rights-of-way associated with access to public lands or waters. If this legislation is enacted, it will mandate the provision of a substitute public access route. The funding for the replacement road may be facilitated through private resources, while the use of eminent domain or condemnation are excluded. Learn more by reading the full bill text here.

Senator Winder debated in favor of the bill stating, "About 8 years ago, we had a committee on federalism, the impact of the federal government on our public lands. We spent 2 years looking at the policies, traveling all around the state, talking to all sorts of different groups. It didn’t matter if it was the Yellowstone Coalition or if it was loggers from north Idaho, hunters, fishermen, or hikers, their main objective in regard to our public lands, whether they were state or federal, was to have access… I think this is a good step in the right direction.”

The bill passed the Senate with a 33-2 vote and will now advance to the House Transportation and Defense Committee for a hearing.

This week, Senator Toews introduced legislation, S1320, to amend Idaho Code 40-202, granting highway districts the authority to perform intermittent maintenance on public rights-of-way or provide support services like snow plowing for first responders, without constituting upkeep or maintenance as the district’s highway. For a comprehensive understanding, click here to read the bill text.

Senate Bill 1320 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, February 20 at 1:30 p.m. (MT). To watch the hearing, click here.