Story Published: Feb 8, 2012 at 12:29 PM PDT
Story Updated: Feb 8, 2012 at 2:17 PM PDT
However, the chamber rejected replacing an immediate eviction notice with a new July 1 deadline.
In a vote Wednesday, the chamber approved the changes to a measure that's already passed the House.
It seeks to ban camping on state-managed land like the old Ada County Courthouse, where Occupy Boise tents have been erected since November.
Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis said giving protesters more time to reclaim their belongings would preserve their constitutional private-property rights.
After these changes, the Senate must vote on the full measure.
Should it pass, it must be returned to the House for another vote, if it's to take effect.
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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Senate members are debating amendments to a bill that would boot Occupy Boise's tent encampment from state land near the Idaho Capitol.
The bill passed the House on a near party-line vote, but its progress has slowed in the Senate on concern it's too tough on protesters.
Wednesday's session included proposals to eliminate an immediate eviction notice for the group that erected tents on the old Ada County Courthouse grounds in November.
Sen. Dan Johnson of Lewiston proposed delaying eviction until July 1, calling it a way to vote his conscience.
And Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis of Idaho Falls called for allowing protesters 90 days to reclaim property they leave behind.
If the Senate backs these changes, the measure must be returned to the House for representatives' renewed approval.
