news · Idaho Capital Sun · Mia Maldonaldo · 20240325
A bill that ends Boise’s Section 8 and rental application fee ordinances is headed to the Idaho governor’s desk after passing both legislative chambers. House Bill 545 passed the Senate in a 26-9 vote Monday afternoon. Sen. Doug Okuniewicz, R-Hayden, opened the debate, noting that its purpose is to prevent local governments from enforcing local rent control ordinances. “A local government unit shall not enact, maintain or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of mandating Idaho property owners to be forced to participate in an optional Federal Housing Assistance Program, or any other program or law that would otherwise regulate rent fees or deposits charged for leasing private residential property,” according to the bill. “It’s simply trying to make sure that a city or county can’t require you to lower your rent at your rental property,” Okuniewicz said. “That’s it in a nutshell.”