Girl Scout Cookie Exemption Bill Clears Hurdle in Idaho House

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation giving Girl Scouts a tax exemption on their annual cookie sales has cleared an initial hurdle in the Idaho House. The bill passed on a 59-11 vote Tuesday, but it faces uncertainty in the Senate where that chamber's Republican leader said the bill may not even get a hearing.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brent Hill predicted last week that tax committee members would stiffen their backbones when it comes enacting more tax exemptions — even for causes like the Girl Scouts.

The measure didn't face that kind of resistance in the House. Priest Lake Republican Eric Anderson said Tuesday that ending the tax — which generates $140,000 annually — would help the organization put more money back into scholarships to help low-income or at-risk girls join.