© 2024 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Apple's latest iOS (17.4) is preventing our livestreams from playing. We suggest you download the free Boise State Public Radio app & stream us there while we work to troubleshoot the issue.

New Program To Allow Remote Testimony At Idaho Legislative Hearings

capitol, statehouse, idaho
Emilie Ritter Saunders
/
Boise State Public Radio

A new pilot project will let people from around the state testify at public legislative hearings without having to come all the way to Boise.

Each year, when the Idaho Legislature meets, they have public hearings on bills at the Statehouse in Boise. But it isn’t always easy for people in Sandpoint or Moscow, or Idaho Falls to get to those hearings and have their say in person. Now there’s a new pilot project designed to help people who live 100 miles or more from the state capitol.

Before Rep. Caroline Troy, R-Genesee was a state Representative, she worked at the University of Idaho and Washington State University. Back then, half of her team was not in her workplace and video conferencing was an everyday way of doing business.

When the Genesee Republican joined the Legislature, she had a constituent in Moscow who wanted to testify on a bill in Boise but couldn’t afford the plane fare. Troy helped her get a ticket but the hearing was moved several times and the woman never got to testify.

“It was unfair for constituents who live too far away from Boise to not be able to come and present their side of the story,” says Troy.

Troy says there are other logistical problems that keep people from coming to the Statehouse.

“Lots of terrible roads between point A and point B, if B is Boise and just really important to hear those perspectives from across the state,” says Troy.

So Troy got permission from Legislative leaders to try a pilot project in 2018. She partnered with universities and community colleges which already have the video equipment in Moscow, Idaho Falls, Carmen, Coeur d’Alene, Twin Falls and Pocatello. Julie VanOrden, chair of the Education Committee, will open up some bills to anyone who wants to give remote testimony. It will be interactive, with both sides able to ask and answer questions.

Troy says lawmakers hear a lot from lobbyists in the statehouse, but she wants to hear from the people.

“I’m just very concerned that we continue to hear from Idahoans, regardless of what their zip code is,” Troy says.

Troy thinks once other lawmakers see how it works, they will be clamoring to have the technology in their committees.

Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio

Copyright 2017 Boise State Public Radio

As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life!). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio.

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.