BOISE — Nine of 10 House members from state legislative Districts 28-32 voted last week in favor of a measure that opponents said would make it considerably more difficult to get voter initiatives and referenda on the Idaho ballot.

    Senate Bill 1108 gained final legislative approval Friday on a 45-21 House vote, with Rep. Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello, being the lone Southeastern Idaho legislator to vote against the measure.

    If it becomes law, SB1108 would require that at least 6 percent of the qualified voters in 18 of 35 legislative districts provide signatures to get initiatives or referendums on the ballot. Current state requires that a minimum of 6 percent of voters in Idaho overall – without regard to political boundary lines – sign petitions for ballot initiatives and referenda to qualify.

    One dozen House Democrats and nine Republicans voted against the legislation – now on its way to Idaho Republican Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.

    Rep. Julie Van Orden, R-Pingree, debated and voted in favor of SB1108, saying the referenda on the Nov. 6 ballot that repealed three education reform laws would still have qualified for a place on the ballot under SB1108.

    “I also sit on the (House) agriculture committee and I know concerns have been brought up for initiatives in there,” Van Orden said.

    Opponents of SB1108 have asserted that the legislation was designed to fend off possible future animal rights activist initiative drives that the agriculture industry fears would have an adverse impact on that industry.

    “If something came forward that was going to affect that (agriculture) industry, I certainly would hope that at least 18 Idaho legislative districts would have a say in that,” Van Orden said.

    Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, also had a comment on the legislation, referring to information he obtained from Idaho House of Representatives pages – high school students who serve during sessions of the Legislature.

    “I think that sitting here hour after hour, they would like to vote,” Andrus said. “In fact, I know that. But they can’t. But I’ve gotten some information from the page room about this legislation and I’d like to share it with you.”

    Speaker of the House Scott Bedke, R-Oakley then said: “To the extent that it’s relevant, please share it.”

    “Mr. Speaker, I think it’s relevant,” Andrus said. “You be the judge.”

    Critics of SB1108 contended that it would be difficult to determine the legislative districts of residents at common signature-gathering events such as county fairs.

    Andrus said the legislative pages offered a different perspective.

    “The input that I’ve gotten is that if a person doesn’t know what legislative district they’re in, maybe they shouldn’t have a great influence on initiatives and referendums,” Andrus said.

    Those statewide ballot measures carry with them the force of law if approved by voters but may be overturned by the Legislature.

    In addition to Van Orden and Andrus, Districts 28-32 House members voting in favor of SB1108 on Friday included Reps. Neil A. Anderson, R-Blackfoot; Marc Gibbs, R-Grace; Kelley Packer, R-McCammon; Tom Loertscher, R-Iona; Jeff Thompson, R-Idaho Falls; and Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls.

    Rep. Carolyn Meline, D-Pocatello, was the lone House Democrat to vote in favor of SB1108.