Idaho Code title 47, chapter 3 – Proposed Statutory Changes

At the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regular meeting on August 4, 2021, the Commission voted to direct the Department to investigate statutory changes to recommend to the Commission. 

The first draft text of proposed statutory changes was presented at the November 16, 2021 Commission meeting. The Commission gave oral comments and also accepted oral public comment on the first draft text. The Department accepted written comments from November 16-November 30, 2021.

The Department received oral comments from the November 16, OGCC meeting and five written comments on the first draft text. The Department reviewed those comments and worked on a second draft text during the month of December.

The second draft text was presented to the Commission at the January 5, 2022 special meeting for the Commission to provide oral comments. The Department did not accept public comments at the meeting but did accept written comments on the second draft text from January 5- January 12, 2022.

The Department received oral comments from the Commission at the January 5, 2022 meeting and received three written comments on the second draft text. The Department reviewed comments and revised the draft text. 

The third draft text was presented to the Commission at the February 15, 2022 regular meeting for the Commission to provide oral comments. The Commission also accepted public comment at the meeting and accepted written comment on the third draft text from February 15- February 22, 2022.

The Department received oral comments from the Commission and from the public at the February 15, 2022 regular meeting and received three written comments on the third draft text. The Department will be reviewing those comments and is working on a fourth draft text. The Department worked on scheduling a public comment session on the fourth draft text.

A public comment session was held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm (MT) at the Fruitland City Hall, 200 S Whitley Dr, Fruitland, ID 83619. This was an opportunity for the public to provide oral comment before the Department on the fourth draft text. There was no written comment period for this fourth draft and no teleconference nor Zoom option to attend the session. This was an in-person public comment session only. Approximately ten members of the public attended the meeting, most of whom presented comments. The sign-in sheet and recording of the meeting are available below in the comments section.

The Department will be presenting a fifth draft text to the Commission at the April 12, 2022 special meeting. No public comments will be accepted and there will not be a written comment period on this fifth draft text. The Commission will be taking votes on specific sections of the statute.

At the April 12, 2022 special Commission meeting, the Commission discussed final changes to the fifth draft and voted on different sections in the statute. The Department presented a sixth draft text for a vote at the May 19, 2022 regular Commission meeting. No written comment period was done but oral public comments were accepted at the Commission meeting. Sign-ups were required.

At the May 19, 2022 regular meeting, the Commission voted in favor of the sixth draft text to be presented during the 2023 legislative session. Department staff reviewed this draft for grammar and format. The Commission and Department fall under the Executive Agency Legislative System (EALS) guidelines. Following these guidelines, the Department completed and submitted the EALS Legislative Idea Form on June 23, 2022. The Department submitted the Statement of Purpose/Fiscal Impact form along with the final text Friday afternoon, August 12, 2022. An update was provided to the Commission at the August 16, 2022 regular Commission meeting.

The 2023 Legislature convened on Monday, January 9, 2023. Information on the 2023 Legislative session can be found on the Idaho Legislative website here: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/. The Oil and Gas Act Modernization bill was presented to the Senate Resources & Environment Committee and the House Resources & Conservation Committee.