An Idaho lawmaker is pushing a bill that, if passed, would make knowingly lying about another person a felony crime in the state.
House Speaker Mike Moyle presented the bill on Friday, aiming to prohibit individuals from publishing false statements about others with “actual malice.”
The Idaho Press reports that the bill defines “actual malice” as either knowingly stating falsehoods or showing reckless disregard for the truth of the statement.
The bill also defines “publish” as “communicate to a person or persons.”
The Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise, Idaho. (powerofforever via Getty Images)
The bill was introduced unanimously by the House State Affairs Committee. Responding to the bill, Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, expressed a desire for a legal evaluation of any potential First Amendment implications that could arise from the bill.
“My concern is that if you make every liar a felon, then we’re going to be in a lot of trouble, not enough room in our jails,” Skaug said.
Libel in Idaho code is currently defined as “malicious defamation,” which is expressed in order to “blacken the memory of one who is dead, or to impeach the honesty, integrity, virtue or reputation, or publish the natural or alleged defects, of one who is alive, and thereby to expose him to public hatred, contempt or ridicule.”
The punishment for the current Idaho code is a fine of up to $5,000 or confinement in county jail for up to six months.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
