IDAHO STATE CAPITOL – The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Thursday approved a bill that would target cities and counties that deprioritize the criminal investigation of abortions.
House Bill 22 would “This bill withholds sales and use tax revenue distributions to city or county
governments that take actions, such as proclamations, to refuse to enforce any felony listed in Idaho criminal code,” according to its statement of purpose.
Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa), the bill’s sponsor, said the bill targeted one city’s resolution to deprioritize investigations and the use of police resources related to abortion investigations.
Committee member Rep. Lauren Necochea (D-Boise) explained that cash-strapped law enforcement departments ought to be able to differentiate between types of crimes to focus their resources, saying dealing fentanyl should probably take priority over the possession of marijuana and investigating rape should be prioritized over abortion.
“I suspect law enforcement all over this state already prioritizes the crimes that pose the biggest threats to public safety,” she said, “Cities and counties ought to be able to make these priorities explicit without the state defunding their police department. This bill is about taking away local control and removing discretion for local law enforcement.”
Necochea said while she doesn’t believe abortion care should ever be criminalized, she said those who do believe people should go to prison over abortions should think through the practical impact of the bill.
“A zealous neighbor could report to the police that they had heard their neighbor was pregnant and is no longer,” she said. “The intent of this bill is to require that the local police force are sent out to investigate what could have been a miscarriage or pregnancy complication or a legal abortion in a neighboring state.”
She said the current near-total abortion ban has such strict penalties for doctors and nurses, it is dissuading medical professionals from practicing in Idaho at all. With this effective deterrent, police investigations are not only unnecessary, but harmful.
“Idaho doesn’t need the force of local police officers and detectives showing up on doorsteps to do pregnancy investigations,” she said. “Pregnancy investigations are invasive and cruel and have no place in our state.”
The bill passed 12-2 on a party-line vote. It will go to the House Floor.