Bill description: SB 1296 allows commercial airports to impose rules and regulations on ridesharing companies.

Rating: -1

Does it give government any new, additional, or expanded power to prohibit, restrict, or regulate activities in the free market? Conversely, does it eliminate or reduce government intervention in the market?

Idaho state law preempts local regulation of transportation network companies (TNCs) popularly known as ride-sharing companies. (Uber and Lyft are the two most popular.) SB 1296 amends the preemption law to give airports with regularly scheduled commercial service authority to "adopt reasonable rules and regulations concerning the parking, waiting, and movement of TNCs and TNC drivers on airport property.”

In other words, this bill allows for increased regulation of what should be a free-market activity. Not only is this harmful to TNC drivers, it also has the potential to impede the freedom of air travelers who prefer to use TNCs when traveling to or from an airport. 

Additionally, this bill does not define what makes a rule or regulation "reasonable," which creates ambiguity.

(-1)

Analyst’s Note: This rating was updated on 2/24 to reflect amendments made to this bill.