Idaho House Bill H0156

Idaho 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/7/25
• Report Pass: 2/12/25

Caption

Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding the compensation of commissioners.

Summary

House Bill 156 amends Idaho law governing the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole. The bill makes a single substantive change to Section 20-1002 of the Idaho Code: it increases the per-day compensation for commissioners from $300 to $400 when they conduct parole, commutation, pardon, revocation, or other hearings. The bill leaves the commission’s structure, appointment process, meeting requirements, and hearing procedures otherwise unchanged. The bill also retains the existing rule that commissioners are reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses, and it preserves the separate compensation framework for quarterly meetings held outside hearing sessions or other approved meetings. An emergency clause is included, making the act effective July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Impact

The bill would directly amend Idaho Code section 20-1002, changing the statutory compensation rate for members of the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole. Its practical effect is to increase state spending for commissioner hearing days while leaving the commission’s authority, membership, and decision-making procedures intact. The bill does not alter parole eligibility standards, pardon authority, or the structure of the parole system; it only adjusts commissioner pay.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was controversial or at least not broadly supported, as it failed on House Third Reading by a narrow 34-35 vote. With no committee transcript available, there is no recorded discussion to indicate strong public or committee consensus. The close vote implies that lawmakers were divided, likely over the appropriateness of increasing commissioner compensation rather than over the commission’s core functions.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be the proposed increase in daily compensation for pardons and parole commissioners, from $300 to $400 per hearing day. Supporters likely viewed the increase as a modest adjustment for the responsibilities of parole, pardon, commutation, and revocation hearings, while opponents may have questioned the need for higher pay or the fiscal impact on the state. Because the bill does not change parole policy itself, the dispute seems centered on compensation and spending rather than on criminal justice policy.