Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: SCR114 – Legislative Drafting Limits – Joint Rule 24
Bill Summary
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 114 establishes new Joint Rule 24, which limits each Idaho legislator to requesting no more than 25 pieces of draft legislation and no more than 10 completed routing slips per year from the Legislative Services Office. The resolution cites the need for limited and efficient government, noting that at least 24 other state legislative chambers have implemented similar measures to reduce legislative volume and allow more focused consideration of important issues.
The rule includes several exceptions: variations of the same draft count as a single piece, revised routing slips count as one item, and limitations do not apply to legislation with written approval from the Senate Pro Tempore or Speaker of the House, appropriations bills drafted by the Budget and Policy Division, amendments or trailer bills, or legislation sponsored by legislative interim committees. The resolution emphasizes that Idaho’s part-time, citizen legislature requires such measures to function efficiently.
Overall Assessment
This resolution addresses internal legislative procedures and receives a positive rating only for its alignment with principles of limited and efficient government. The bill establishes procedural limits on legislative drafting requests to streamline the legislative process, directly supporting responsible governance principles. However, it does not address any substantive policy areas covered by the other evaluation metrics, as it focuses exclusively on internal legislative operations rather than policy outcomes in areas such as education, natural resources, healthcare, or other specific policy domains.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (1)
The resolution explicitly states that 'the Idaho Legislature values the principles of limited and efficient government' and implements measures to reduce legislative volume, allowing legislators to 'more efficiently consider and debate the most important issues facing their states.' By limiting each legislator to 25 draft pieces and 10 routing slips annually, the rule promotes focused, efficient governance consistent with the principles of limited government outlined in this metric.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This resolution addresses internal legislative drafting procedures and contains no provisions related to citizen participation, voter eligibility, election processes, or public involvement in government. The bill text focuses exclusively on limiting the number of drafting requests legislators may submit to the Legislative Services Office.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
The resolution establishes procedural rules for legislative drafting and contains no provisions related to education policy, parental rights in education, school choice, curriculum standards, or any education-related matters. The bill addresses only internal legislative operations.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
This resolution concerns legislative drafting limits and contains no provisions related to agriculture, farming, ranching, agricultural education, trade, or water rights for agricultural purposes. The bill text does not address any agricultural policy matters.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The resolution establishes limits on legislative drafting requests and contains no provisions related to water rights, water management, prior appropriation doctrine, dams, reservoirs, or any water-related policy matters. The bill addresses only internal legislative procedures.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
This resolution addresses internal legislative procedures and contains no provisions related to environmental policy, natural resources management, federal lands, wilderness areas, forest health, or any environmental matters. The bill text focuses exclusively on drafting request limitations.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The resolution establishes legislative drafting limits and contains no provisions related to energy policy, energy independence, hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, petroleum, natural gas, or any energy-related matters. The bill addresses only internal legislative operations.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
This resolution addresses legislative drafting procedures and contains no provisions related to the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, technology development, or any INL-related matters. The bill text focuses exclusively on internal legislative rules.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The resolution establishes internal legislative rules on drafting limits and contains no provisions related to private property rights, eminent domain, just compensation, or property development regulations. The bill does not address property rights issues.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
This resolution addresses legislative drafting procedures and contains no provisions related to federal land management, state administration of lands, or reducing federal land ownership. The bill text focuses exclusively on internal legislative operations.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The resolution establishes limits on legislative drafting requests and contains no provisions related to wildlife management, hunting, fishing, predator control, or any wildlife-related matters. The bill addresses only internal legislative procedures.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
This resolution addresses internal legislative procedures and, while it may indirectly affect the regulatory environment by limiting legislative volume, contains no direct provisions related to commerce, small business, labor, transportation, or economic development. The bill text focuses exclusively on drafting request limitations.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
The resolution establishes legislative drafting limits and contains no provisions related to healthcare, health insurance, patient rights, health savings accounts, or any health and welfare policy matters. The bill addresses only internal legislative operations.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
This resolution addresses internal legislative procedures and contains no provisions related to family values, marriage, right to life, parental rights, or any family-related policy matters. The bill text focuses exclusively on drafting request limitations.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
The resolution establishes limits on legislative drafting requests and contains no provisions related to older Americans, retirement, senior services, or policies affecting seniors. The bill addresses only internal legislative procedures.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
This resolution addresses legislative drafting procedures and contains no provisions related to gun rights, criminal justice, drug policy, incarceration, juvenile justice, or state sovereignty matters. The bill text focuses exclusively on internal legislative rules.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
The resolution establishes internal legislative rules and contains no provisions related to national defense, veterans, military bases, the National Guard, border security, or any defense-related matters. The bill addresses only legislative drafting procedures.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
This resolution addresses legislative drafting limits and contains no provisions related to judicial elections, judicial selection processes, or constitutional interpretation. The bill text focuses exclusively on internal legislative operations.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The resolution establishes limits on legislative drafting requests and contains no provisions related to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The bill addresses only internal legislative procedures.