Idaho Lawmakers Prepare Interim Committees for Summer

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lawmakers may be done setting the state budget and passing laws, but they'll continue to work on reviewing hot button issues varying from multi-million contracts, school broadband access and public defense reform.

Legislative leaders approved the 2015 interim committees on Tuesday. The panels will meet over the summer and provide recommendations to lawmakers during next year's legislative session. This included appointing members to a new committee to review Idaho's bidding and selection process of the state's most expensive contracts.

A separate legislative panel will review if a statewide system is needed to provide broadband to public schools. Earlier this year, a district judge upheld a ruling that the state's multi-million dollar school broadband contract was illegal. Other panels will focus on public defense reform, natural resources and criminal justice reinvestment.