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ID HJM006

JM

Status

Passed

3/25/2025

Primary Sponsor

Resources and Conservation Committee

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2025 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Idaho Legislature requests Congress amend the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) of 1980 to require parties prevail on the "central issue" rather than just "any significant issue" to receive attorney's fees in environmental or natural resource cases

  • Federal agencies paid $115,476,482.59 in EAJA attorney's fees and expenses in fiscal year 2023

  • Department of the Interior paid 19 awards totaling $2,868,732.63 and the Environmental Protection Agency paid six awards totaling $1,408,792.88 in fiscal year 2023

  • The Legislature contends EAJA has been misused to fund litigation that blocks development and resource extraction, harming Idaho citizens whose livelihoods depend on land development

Legislative Description

States findings of the Legislature and calls on Congress to amend the Equal Access to Justice Act.

EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT

Last Action

Delivered to Secretary of State at 11:46 a.m. on March 25, 2025

3/25/2025

Committee Referrals

Resources and Environment3/3/2025
Resources and Conservation2/11/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available