Rating: 0

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1029 amends Idaho Code §1-808 to increase the number of district judges serving in the Seventh Judicial District from six to seven. The district includes the counties of Lemhi, Custer, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, Bonneville, and Bingham. The bill specifically establishes a new resident judicial chamber in Bonneville County. This addition is intended to help manage judicial workload and improve access to justice in eastern Idaho. The measure includes an emergency clause and is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

While S1029 may help ensure timely judicial proceedings and support access to due process in a growing region, it also represents an expansion of government personnel and long-term budget obligations without any accountability measures, performance data, or cost-saving provisions. The Idaho Republican Party Platform supports the rule of law and a functioning judiciary but also calls for fiscal restraint and limited government. Because this bill presents benefits to the legal system but raises concerns about unchecked government growth, it is best evaluated as neutral under the platform.