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A Republican legislator who is running for Idaho Secretary of State in this springs primary elections is making her third attempt to make widespread changes to voter registration and identification laws in the name of election security.

Rep. Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley, sponsored House Bill 761. On Thursday, the House State Affairs Committee voted to put it on a fast-track and send it straight to the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives, skipping the committee public hearing process.

Moons new 21-page bill would make several changes if it is passed into law. Some of the changes include:

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The bill would also create a $200,000 fund to pay for state identification cards that would be accepted for voting and available free of charge for people who do not have a drivers license or one of the other accepted forms of identification.

I think Ive addressed every issue and concern (in previous bills), Moon told the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday.

The Idaho Secretary of States Office said elections in Idaho are secure and that claims of widespread voter fraud made following the 2020 election are without merit.

Earlier version of the bills raised questions and drew opposition

The first two versions of the bill were similar but attracted opposition and raised many questions.

In legislative lingo, that makes House Bill 761 the grandson of House Bill 549, because it is the third generation.

The bill now has a clause that makes sure it wont take effect before this years May 17 primary elections. Instead, it would take effect on July 21. That means the changes would apply to Novembers general election if it is signed into law.

During Thursdays introductory hearing, Moon said she cleared up all the issues with the previous versions of the bill.

I think weve got it covered, I do, Moon said.

But Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, worried the bill would still make it very difficult for many students, young people and new Idaho residents to vote.

Im really concerned about the young person who is 19, 20, 21, 22 and proving their residency for same-day voting purposes, Gannon said.

Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby, also told Moon he still has questions about how voters could prove their residency if their home was owned through a trust and they didnt have a lease or mortgage in their name.

I dont think that has really been hashed through as well as you would think, Furniss said during the bills introductory hearing.

Gannon and Rep. Chris Mathias, D-Boise, voted against introducing and fast-tracking Moons new bill Thursday, while all of the Republicans on the committee voted in favor of it.

At this point, the bill is already behind schedule. The Idaho Legislatures self-imposed transmittal deadline to move bills between the two legislative chambers was Monday. Legislative leaders have also said they are working to wrap up the session in about two weeks, by March 25.

Moon had the new bill sent straight to the House floor in an effort to speed it up with the potential end of the session closing in. If the Idaho House passes the bill in the coming days, it would still need to pass the Idaho Senate and be signed into law by Gov. Brad Little or allowed to become law without Littles signature.

Moon is running in the Republican primary for secretary of state this year. On Thursday, Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane announced he will also run for secretary of state in the GOP primary. The candidate filing period closes at 5 p.m. Friday.

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Republican Idaho legislator introduces third bill attempting to change voter registration, ID laws - Idaho Capital Sun