Boise (670 KBOI News) – A bill to make it harder for citizens’ initiatives to make it onto the ballot is one step away from going to Governor Little’s desk.

The House State Affairs Committee voted 10-5 today to pass Senate Bill 1159…it would increase the requirements to get an initiative on the ballot from 6% of voters signatures in 18 of 35 legislative districts, to 10% of voters in 32 of 35 districts.

The time period in which to get those signatures would also be cut from 18 to six months. Critics say that’s not enough time, especially given the increased signature requirements.

Supporters of the bill say it would ensure voters in rural counties would have to be taken into consideration, and that with the law the way it is now, only voters in the state’s more populated counties have their voices heard.