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Hello {{CFirstName}},

Happy Valentines Day! The sixth week of the 2025 Legislative Session has concluded and it was an eventful one. The Senate heard HB093 in the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee and SB1025 was debated and died on the Senate floor.

Additionally, SB1007, a bill to require boards to allow public comment of any topic regardless of whether it was on the agenda was sent to the 14th Order for more amendments. ISBA testified against this bill due to the disruptions it would cause during school board meetings. However, we are willing to work with the bill sponsor to make amendments to this bill to fit the needs of the community and school board members.

Read below to learn more about the most important bills we saw introduced this week and how you can have a voice in the legislative process.

School Voucher Bill Updates

It was a busy week in the Senate for voucher legislation. On Wednesday, February 12, the Senate heard HB093 in the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee. Many people showed up to testify on the bill, a majority of which were opposed to this bill and voucher legislation. After lengthy testimony and debate the committee passed HB093 to the floor on a 6-3 vote.

Additionally, SB1025 was debated on the floor on Friday, February 14. The debate was short, but it was clear that senators want a bill that follows the Governor's request for bills to be fair, accountable, responsible, and transparent. The bill failed on a 28-6 vote.

The Senate may hear HB093 as soon as Tuesday. If that is the case we encourage all Day on the Hill attendees to watch the floor debate from the Senate gallery.

Use our tool below to quickly send your senator an email asking them to vote NO on HB093.

Send Your Senator an Email Here

Legislative Updates

HB147, which would address the struggle rural school districts face when issuing a bond in their community, was heard in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee on Friday morning. After hearing testimony from ISBA and other education stakeholders, and some thoughtful debate and discussion from the committee, the bill unanimously passed to the floor.

SB1023: The senate took up amendments to SB 1023 on Thursday, which essentially removes all vaccination laws for public, private, and post-secondary schools. On Friday, the Senate moved it back onto the 14th order for further amendments.

SB1096 was introduced on Monday and heard in committee on Thursday. This bill would change the distribution of discretionary funding to follow the student. It is weighted based on verified student characteristics to recognize the actual costs associated with the different needs of students. The Senate Education Committee unanimously voted to send it to the Senate Floor on Thursday.

HJR1, would amend Idaho's Constitutional “compulsory attendance” requirement to send children to school from ages 6 to 18 unless alternate education is provided. While ISBA has concerns, the sponsors are working to ease them. We have been assured that it does not impact attendance or neglect laws and does not infringe upon the Legislature's ability to regulate voucher programs, should they become law. It was heard in the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday and passed to the House Floor. Constitutional amendments require approval from two-thirds of the House, two-thirds of the Senate and a majority of Idaho voters.

Additional Legislation To Watch

HB41 on flags in public schools was heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. After some testimony and discussion from the committee, they voted to send the bill to the 14th Order to clean up and further define some language in the bill.

HB179 would require action from a child's parent or guardian to opt-in to all instruction on “human sexuality.” However, the sponsor introduced a new version on Friday.

HB225 was introduced on Wednesday. This bill would create the School Mobile Device Policy Fund, which would add a $1,500 incentive for any school district or charter school that develops policy to promote distraction free learning. Similarly, HB229 is another mobile device bill introduced to the House Education Committee on Wednesday. This bill would require all school districts to adopt a policy on mobile devices by August 1, 2025.

HB236 is a bill that would assist school districts in navigating enrollment and attendance for dangerous individuals. It was introduced in the House Education Committee on Friday. It would give school boards the ability to decide if they would like to accept the student requesting admission or not.

HB238 would require school districts to have the Ten Commandments posted in public school buildings. This bill is modeled on national legislation that we have seen in states like Louisiana.

SB1046 was heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. This bill would require schools to show high-definition ultrasound videos of the development of a fetus, in any class or unit that teaches sexual education in grades 5-12. After testimony and debate on whether this was appropriate for all of the grades included in this legislation, the bill was sent to the 14th Order.

SB1044, which would require cursive handwriting to be taught in classrooms was heard in committee and passed on an 8-1 vote on Wednesday. It will now move to the Senate floor.

SB1098 was introduced on Monday. This bill provides clarification on teacher apprenticeship pathways and states that apprenticeship programs should lead to a bachelor's degree and a standard instructional certificate.

It is not too late to register for Day on the Hill. View our event page to learn more.

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ISBA Bill Tracker

ISBA is currently tracking 50 bills that would impact Idaho public education. The complete bill tracker includes detailed information and ISBA staff analysis regarding the bills. Please know you have to toggle between “support, oppose, and monitor” to see the full list of bills.

There are quite a few bills this session that would drastically change public education as we know it. Watch this short video to learn a bit more about some of the bills we are keeping an eye on such as any voucher legislation, public comment at school board meetings, and a bill to change supplemental levy terms.