Idaho BHA – 2020 Idaho Legislative Session Recap
The 2020 legislative session wrapped up in late March and we had several victories for hunters and anglers in the State of Idaho. Idaho BHA was more engaged than ever before with the legislature, both via our relationship with the Idaho Sportsmen’s Alliance as well as engagement from board members in the Capitol. Victories included bills that expanded hunting opportunities in the state, as well as victories that defeated bills that could have opened wildlife management to the whims of politics.
Most notably Idaho BHA engaged in tandem with ISA in opposing HB514, a bill that would have removed the political affiliation requirements for Idaho Fish & Game Commissioners. The political affiliation requirement, that has been in place since 1938, prevents politicization of wildlife management by not allowing for more than 4 members of the 7-person commission to be of the same political party. ISA effectively lobbied to hold HB514 in the Senate Resources & Environment Committee, where it was tabled for the remainder of the session.
In the past few months Idaho BHA staff and volunteers have spent time monitoring and commenting on various projects and proposed rule changes throughout the state as they relate to the management of our public lands, waters, and wildlife. We encourage our members to watch the Idaho BHA Facebook group where opportunities to engage are shared regularly.
About Idaho BHA
The Idaho chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is a group united by a passion to protect and conserve public land forests, mountains, prairies, streams and lakes that support our hunting and angling traditions.