BOISE - The Senate State Affairs Committee agreed it makes sense to give a liquor license to the Nez Perce tribe for its new convention center on the Clearwater River.

Monday's vote, with quiet opposition from just a couple of Republicans, moves the measure to the Senate floor for a vote. The bill, which has already been approved in the House, would allow federally recognized Indian tribes to obtain a hard liquor license, as long as they own and operate a convention or lodging facility on their reservation that has at least 35,000 square feet of space and 50 hotel rooms.

After that, Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter must sign it into law.

Senate won't add teachers to school security bill

Senators declined to amend a bill aimed at making Idaho schools safer, voting against adding teachers and school superintendents to the list of those responsible for crafting new security plans.

Under the measure from GOP Sen. Marv Hagedorn, it would be up to elected county sheriffs and school trustees to create the plans, which could eventually include allowing teachers and bus drivers to carry firearms.

Panel introduces revised education tax credit bill

A measure giving tax credits to individuals or businesses who donate to private and religious schools has been introduced in a House committee.

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted on a party-line, Republican-led vote Monday to introduce the legislation that offers tax breaks to people and companies that give scholarships to students attending private schools.

The bill provides an estimated $10 million yearly in tax credits to donors.

Coeur d'Alene Republican Sen. Bob Nonini said his proposal gives more financial support to private school students and could save the state an estimated $5.8 million annually by lowering enrollment in the state's public schools.

House votes against taxing cloud computing

The House voted to exclude so-called cloud computing services delivered over the Internet from being charged a sales tax by the state. The 65-2 vote sends the measure to the Senate.

The Idaho Technology Council, which represents technology businesses in the state, asked for the measure after the Idaho Tax Commission interpreted a 1993 state law as saying software is taxable property - no matter how it is delivered. In cloud computing, people or companies rent computing services or storage space over a network, rather than buy actual software.

Only Democrats John Gannon of Boise and Shirley Ringo of Moscow voted against the bill.

House panel advances Girl Scout tax bill

Idaho Girl Scouts could keep more dough on each box of Thin Mints and Tagalongs they sell under legislation advanced by a House committee.

The House Revenue and Tax Committee passed a bill Monday exempting the youth leadership group's cookie program from the state sales tax.

That tax - now at 22 cents per box - generates about $140,000 annually.

About 40 Girl Scouts and troop leaders showed up to the hearing to plead their case.

Universities get small boost for maintenance

Budget writers have approved $12.5 million to start addressing an estimated $700 million worth of deferred maintenance needs at the state's colleges and universities.

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is using money from Idaho's Permanent Building Fund to help cover the cost of some repairs at the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Boise State University and Lewis-Clark State College, the Spokesman-Review reported.

The budget-setting panel OK'd the appropriation Friday on a unanimous vote after viewing pictures of conditions at the schools, including rotting window frames, cracked sidewalks, leaking boilers and a professor lecturing to a classroom of students under a water-stained ceiling.