Idaho Legislature: Ask Legislators to VOTE NO on H0307 - Elections, candidates, false claims (posted 02/25/25, updated 02/28/25)

• Bill: legislature.idaho.gov/s…

• Contact Legislators: emailidaho.com

(Check the linked page or use My Bill Tracker for the bill’s current status.)

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H0307 empowers Secretary of State to investigate false claims made about candidates during election campaigns.

Specifics:

• Candidates who believe false information was published about them can report claim to Secretary of State (SOS), who must investigate.

• If claim is “verifiably false,” SOS gives publishing party either seven days (if more than two weeks before election) or 48 hours to respond (if within two weeks of an election).

• Following a response (if any) from publisher, SOS must post findings on official SOS website.

• "Publish" includes through telephone, radio, television, internet, or any form of writing.

H0307 is a "Ministry of Truth Act" granting the SOS power to investigate and decide what is “true” or “false” in political campaigns. This bill crushes our unalienable free speech rights to speak and hear ALL information, good, bad, true, or false. Moreover, it does not give campaigns accused of “lying” enough time to respond.

We despise lies and smears. But we despise censorship – especially government censorship – even more. Example: Government censorship about what drugs are safe and effective treatments for COVID-19 showed us that yesterday’s accused “liars” are today’s “truth tellers.”

Politics is a dirty business. Everyone knows this. Idaho’s campaign laws already require campaign mailers to reveal their source; voters already can find out who contributed to political campaigns. It’s up to voters and political candidates – NOT government – to research and apply critical thinking to decide truth vs lies.

What’s wrong with H307:

• SOS decides which campaign statements are false, making SOS the “Truth Police.”

• Only candidates can file complaints, giving politicians special protections that voters and media don’t have.

• With so little time to respond, a biased or inaccurate ruling could unfairly damage a campaign with no chance for correction.

• Can be used to silence challengers and protect political insiders.

By having government unconstitutionally censor ANY information, we fall into the pit of tyranny. Just like our cousins in Russia, China, Canada, UK, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, to name a few. Do we really want Idaho to join their ranks? NO!

References / Related:

• US Constitution, First Amendment: constitution.congress.g…

• Should it Be Legal to Lie? By Brian Almon (02/27/25):