Lawmakers Approve 342 Bills
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The 2012 Legislature left town March 29.
The Idaho Legislature put its stamp of approval on 342 bills this year, more than half of the measures introduced, according to legislative services.
As of today, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has signed a fraction of them, 182. The session ended last Thursday. That means Otter has ten days to sign or veto bills he received post-session. After that they automatically become law without his signature. The governor has five days to sign or veto if he received the bill when the Legislature was still in session.
The governor hasn’t vetoed anything so far this year, but he has allowed four bills to become law without his approval.
Data going back to 1959 shows the Idaho Legislature typically approved somewhere between 300-400 bills during a regular session.
Legislation Summary 1987-2011 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Session Year | Bills Introduced | Bills Enacted | Vetoes |
| 1987 | 619 | 361 | 7 |
| 1988 | 732 | 376 | 9 |
| 1989 | 752 | 426 | 8 |
| 1990 | 804 | 439 | 3 |
| 1991 | 687 | 338 | 9 |
| 1992 | 726 | 342 | 8 |
| 1993 | 752 | 416 | 14 |
| 1994 | 958 | 456 | 16 |
| 1995 | 679 | 369 | 5 |
| 1996 | 772 | 433 | 8 |
| 1997 | 695 | 404 | 5 |
| 1998 | 708 | 428 | 10 |
| 1999 | 666 | 397 | 4 |
| 2000 | 737 | 487 | 3 |
| 2001 | 662 | 397 | 3 |
| 2002 | 605 | 371 | 2 |
| 2003 | 678 | 381 | 8 |
| 2004 | 617 | 389 | 5 |
| 2005 | 642 | 405 | 9 |
| 2006 | 735 | 459 | 0 |
| 2007 | 581 | 369 | 6 |
| 2008 | 633 | 410 | 3 |
| 2009 | 624 | 344 | 36 |
| 2010 | 549 | 359 | 0 |
| 2011 | 565 | 335 | 1 |
| 2012* | 554 | 342 | n/a |
Source: Idaho Blue Book
You can track Gov. Otter’s action on legislation here.
*2012 data is preliminary
