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HJM 5

Urging federal officials to expand public school funding and to practice restraint in funding vouchers and private charter schools.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Paul Evans

Idaho urges federal officials to permanently block Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project, opposing BLM approval over environmental, cultural, and economic concerns.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HJM 5

Summary — HJM 5 (Idaho, 2025) — Opposition to Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project

Purpose / Intent

House Joint Memorial 5 is a formal request from the Idaho Legislature to the U.S. Congress, Idaho’s congressional delegation, and the President of the United States asking for federal intervention to permanently prohibit the Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project. The memorial expresses the Legislature’s opposition to the Bureau of Land Management’s Record of Decision approving the project and asks federal officials to block the project because of environmental, cultural, economic, and infrastructure concerns.

Note: the bill information header the user provided referenced a different topic (public school funding and vouchers). The documents supplied and the bill text for HJM 5 relate exclusively to the Lava Ridge wind project; this summary reflects the bill text and legislative documents provided.

Key provisions / requests

  • Declares that the Idaho Legislature opposes the Lava Ridge project as approved by the BLM (a large lease of public lands in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties).
  • Cites concerns including impacts to cultural/historical sites (e.g., Minidoka National Historic Site), wildlife migration and habitat, agricultural and recreational land use, civil/military/agricultural flight operations, and local economies.
  • Highlights construction-related risks: 231 turbines up to 660 feet tall; two-year construction period; blasting that may threaten the Snake River Aquifer and subsurface geology.
  • Argues Idaho will receive little to no benefit because generated power would primarily serve Southern Nevada and California.
  • Requests federal legislative and executive action to “permanently prohibit” the Lava Ridge project and mandates that the memorial be forwarded to the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate and House leadership, and Idaho’s congressional delegation.

Who/what would be affected

  • Local communities and economies in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties (housing, workforce, construction capacity).
  • Agricultural operations, hunters/fishers and other public recreational users of the land.
  • Wildlife and habitat in the Magic Valley area.
  • Subsurface resources, particularly the Snake River Aquifer (cited as at risk from blasting/ground disturbance).
  • Federal agencies: Bureau of Land Management and Department of the Interior (decision-making targets).
  • Project developer (LS Energy) and regional energy markets in Nevada and California, identified as principal beneficiaries of the project’s generated power.

Legislative and procedural timeline

  • Introduced: February 7, 2025.
  • Committee referrals and recommendations: Reported out of committee with “Do Pass” recommendations (Environment, Energy & Technology; Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources).
  • Floor actions: Read, adopted in the House and Senate via voice votes in February–March 2025.
  • Enrollment and transmission: Enrolled and transmitted; records show the memorial was delivered to the Secretary of State on March 27, 2025.
  • Other entries: Reported as “Returned Signed by the President” (document language) and also listed as “in committee upon adjournment” as of June 28, 2025; some calendar/committee hold notations appear in the legislative actions log.
    (The memorial form means Idaho state government forwarded the Legislature’s request to federal officials; it does not itself change federal law.)

Fiscal impact

  • The accompanying fiscal note states the memorial has no fiscal impact on the Idaho State General Fund or any other governmental entity.

Sponsors and committees

  • Primary sponsors (House): Reps. Jack Nelsen, Mike J. Pohanka, Lance W. Clow (and others listed as co-sponsors).
  • Senate co-sponsors: Senators Kohl, Taylor, Zuiderveld.
  • Committees involved: Environment, Energy & Technology; Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources; Rules.

Effect and limitations

  • A joint memorial is a formal expression of the state Legislature’s position and a request to federal officials; it does not itself alter federal permitting or law. Its practical effect depends on whether federal decisionmakers act on the request.
  • The memorial references and supports recent executive actions (notably a presidential executive order directing a review and temporary moratorium) and seeks permanent federal action to stop the project.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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