Rating: –1

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1030 amends Idaho Code §3-409 to increase the annual license fees charged by the Idaho State Bar for attorneys practicing in the state. The fee hike affects all membership categories, including active attorneys, house counsel, inactive members, emeritus members, and senior members. For example, the annual fee for attorneys more than three years out of law school increases from $425 to $485. The bill maintains the $20 cap on assessments for the Clients’ Assistance Fund and reaffirms the Idaho State Bar’s authority to use fees for administrative purposes, legal education, public outreach, and local bar activities. It also retains the requirement for an annual independent CPA audit and includes an emergency clause, making the bill effective immediately upon passage.

Reason for Rating:

S1030 directly conflicts with the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s principles of limited government and keeping taxes and fees to a minimum. By mandating increased fees for a profession legally required to maintain licensure, the bill imposes a greater financial burden without providing justification for the increase or offering any structural reforms. It fails to demonstrate fiscal necessity, efficiency improvements, or increased accountability. The platform is also generally critical of mandatory occupational licensing regimes that restrict entry and elevate costs. This bill entrenches such a system by increasing the cost of compliance without offering new value to Idahoans. For these reasons, it earns a negative rating.