Gov. Little signs law that increases restrictions on Idaho citizens initiative rights

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Governor Little signed SB-1110 into law Saturday, increasing restrictions on Idaho citizen initiative rights.

This bill, coined 'the voter initiative bill', increases the number of signatures required to add a citizen initiative bill to the ballot.

Campaigns must now collect signatures from six percent of registered voters in all 35 state legislative districts. Previously, 18 state legislative districts were requited.

With this move, Idaho now has the most restrictive initiative rules in the nation, according to Idaho Reports.

In a press release Saturday, Reclaim Idaho, who spearheaded the successful Medicaid expansion ballot initiative in 2018, promised to challenge the new law in court.

Meanwhile, Governor Little vetoed a pair of bills that would limit his emergency powers on Friday.

"The bill is politicized....totally impractical and costly," Governor Little said.

The governor said he wants to keep the executive and legislative branches in balance, and former governors, he says, support his intent to use the veto pen.