Idaho Senate Panel Kills Bill to Expand State’s Sunshine Law

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho Senate panel has spiked a proposal to require all candidates to file campaign finance reports.

The Senate State Affairs Committee rejected the legislation Monday after fearing it would create too much of a burden on election clerks and prevent candidates from running for office. Republican Sen. Mary Souza from Coeur d'Alene says the bill would have provided a "little bit of sunshine" in the state's smallest and most overlooked elections.

Currently, Idaho does not require mayor and city council candidates to submit campaign finance reports in cities with a population less than 5,000. Last year, the Legislature passed a law requiring school board trustees with more than 500 students submit campaign finance reports.