Rating: –1
Bill Summary:
House Bill 294 amends Idaho Code §61-712A to increase civil penalties for violations related to the safety of pipeline facilities and the transportation of gas under the authority of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The bill raises the maximum daily fine per violation to $2,000 and sets the cap for a related series of violations at $200,000. These updated penalties align Idaho law with federal regulations outlined in 49 CFR 190.223. The bill also includes an emergency clause, making it effective immediately upon passage.
Reason for Rating:
Although intended to bolster enforcement of pipeline safety standards, H0294 significantly expands the punitive authority of a regulatory agency without adding due process safeguards or transparency measures. It directly increases the financial burden on regulated entities, empowers unelected bureaucrats with greater discretion, and explicitly ties Idaho’s civil penalties to federal code—eroding state sovereignty.
This approach violates the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s principles of limited government, regulatory restraint, and independence from federal mandates. By escalating penalties without corresponding accountability reforms, the bill prioritizes centralized enforcement over constitutional protections and state autonomy. It is therefore appropriately rated at –1.