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Hello {{CFirstName}},

The second week of the 2025 Legislative Session has concluded, and it was a quiet week. Staff have heard rumblings of multiple voucher bills being passed around the Statehouse and anticipate at least two dropping next week. We will keep you updated as we see those introduced. 

Here's what we saw introduced this week: 

• In the House Education Committee, Representative Hill introduced HB10, the flags in public schools bill. This bill was introduced and heard quickly. The bill prohibits any public school from displaying flags or banners that aren’t in one of the following categories: United States flag; official flag of Idaho, or any county, university, school district or other political subdivision; official flags of any state in the U.S., recognized foreign nations, school flags, military branches, or tribes; flags or banners recognized by the Department of Education, or that represent school colors or mascots. It explicitly prohibits flags that represent a political viewpoint, including but not limited to political party, race, sexual orientation or gender, or political ideology. It easily passed through the committee and will move to the house floor, after an attempt to send it to general orders. This bill is almost an exact copy of SB1362 from the 2024 session. ISBA's Government Affairs Committee took a neutral stance.

• In the Senate Education Committee, Senator Carlson introduced SB1007 which would amend the “public comment bill”, or SB1361 from the 2024 session. It strikes a very important provision in the law that requires public comment to be limited to agenda items. As a reminder, ISBA negotiated this legislation in good faith and school boards are currently the only public entity that is required to take public comment. We fear removing that provision is a bridge too far into local control. Senator Carlson believes this is necessary because a constituent in her legislative district was advised they could not talk to patrons about issues in the community unless it was on agenda items. This is inaccurate. While school board members must use discretion to avoid discussing confidential or sensitive topics, we want them to be the bridge between the community and the school district and charter. ISBA is working with Senator Carlson to ensure this bill remains manageable for ISBA members. The Government Affairs Committee opposed the bill.

Change in Employee Compensation in Limbo & Maintenance Budgets Set

This will be the first year that all public school employees salary increases – including for teachers and pupil service staff – are included as a part of Change in Employee Compensation, or “CEC”. The Governor’s recommendation was for 5% across the board. However, budget writers on the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee remained deadlocked on two proposals. JFAC set the “maintenance” budget for public schools and all other state agencies, which is essentially the current year (FY25) budget for next year (FY26), and will set “enhancement” budgets on March 4th to include any new investments. They proceeded to set budgets without increases to CEC or health insurance adjustments.

ISBA Bill Tracker

Voucher Updates:

The video below includes an update on how the Governor’s statements on this issue impact the fight to protect public schools.

Lobby Day - January 20

There is still time to register and join public school supporters from across Idaho on January 20, 2025 to advocate for public funds funding public schools. 

Details: 

Date: January 20, 2025 (MLK Day) 

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location: 700 W Jefferson St. Boise, ID 83702

Cost: FREE 

School Voucher Opposition Toolkit

Take a stand for public schools.

ISBA is dedicated to equipping members and public education supporters with resources to push back against school voucher rhetoric.

The toolkit includes:

• Fact Sheets
• Messaging Tips
• Myth vs. Fact Sheet
• Social Media Graphics
•  Voucher Lobby Day Information

In the News

• Ohio's expanded school voucher programs, originally for disadvantaged students, are now funneling nearly $1 billion annually to private religious schools, raising concerns about public education funding and church-state separation. Read about it here. 
  

• The Thursday JFAC meeting ended abruptly when members of the committee could not agree on a decision about the Governor's proposed CEC funding. Read more about it here. 

You can find committee agendas, reading calendars, legislator information, and more by visiting the Idaho State Legislature website.

You can find live video coverage and footage of the 2025 Legislative Session by visiting the Idaho Public Television - Idaho in Session site.

To view editions of ISBA's 2025 Capitol Notes, click here.

Who is representing ISBA at the Capitol?

199 N. Capitol Blvd.

Suite 503

Boise, ID 83702

(866) 799-4722