Idaho House passes bill to criminalize false reports of child abuse

Existing law allows civil penalties, bill sponsors argue it shields the reporter’s identity

Legislation is making its way through the Idaho Legislature that would make it a crime to file a false report of child abuse or neglect. Several other states have similar laws on their books. House Bill 66, sponsored by Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, passed the House on a mostly party-line vote Wednesday. Rep. David Cannon of Blackfoot was the lone Republican to vote against the bill. It now heads to the Senate. Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, is one of the bill’s cosponsors and spoke in favor of the bill to the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee in a hearing last week.