BOISE, Idaho — The 2022 Legislative Session concluded Thursday after 81 days.
Lawmakers adjourned Sine Die following a five-day recess. The House adjourned shortly before 2 p.m. with the Senate following around 2:45 p.m. Thursday.
The Idaho Senate failed to override Gov. Brad Little's veto on the Coronavirus Pause Act before voting to adjourn.
That’s a wrap! #ipol #idleg #sinedie pic.twitter.com/isCG5CO0rs
— Nicole Camarda (@CamardaNicole) March 31, 2022
House lawmakers killed the library budget for a second time Friday night, postponing any possible adjournment.
The 81 day session comes following a record-breaking long 311 day session in 2021.
“I think we’re pleased with the outcomes. I think that we did some great stuff this year,” Speaker of the House Scott Bedke said.
Throughout the course of the 2022 session, Gov. Brad Little signed bills including the $600 million tax cut, several education-related bills and a bill to fund emergency medical services in ruralcommunities. Idaho garnered national attention when Little signed the controversial Texas-style abortion ban that outlaws abortions after 6 weeks and allows potential family members to sue the provider. The law, which would go into effect 30 days after Little signed it, drew criticism from both Vice President Kamala Harris and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki shortly after.
“I think we will look back on this year as the year that we, for the second year in a row, cut taxes at a historic level. We made an unprecedented level of investments back into our infrastructure both on the roads and bridges, but also in the water infrastructure, and also into our state buildings,” Bedke said. “I think when we look back ten years from now, that one of the best things we did this year was to bring our teachers up to parity with regard to health insurance.”
