Legislators in Idaho recently wrapped up an extended and at times contentious session, with a focus on bills that targeted LGBTQ+ residents. These bills included measures to restrict gender-affirming care and pronouns, as well as protections for teachers who do not use the pronouns preferred by transgender students. The session also included important legislation, such as a $2 billion investment in addressing dilapidated public school buildings and the Idaho LAUNCH program, which provides grants for high school graduates pursuing in-demand careers at Idaho colleges or technical programs. The session was originally scheduled to conclude in March but was extended into April due to budget disputes.
One of the key bills passed during the session was a law banning the use of public funds for gender-affirming care for individuals of all ages. This law, signed by the governor in late March, prevents state employees using employer-provided health insurance and adults covered by Medicaid from accessing gender-affirming care. Another bill passed prevents public employees from being required to address individuals using their preferred pronouns. Teachers are also prohibited from using names or pronouns for students that do not align with the student’s gender assigned at birth, unless parental consent is given. These bills are set to go into effect on July 1.
The session also saw the passage of a bill requiring school and public libraries to segregate material deemed “harmful to minors” to an adults-only section or face lawsuits. The law allows for complaints from community members regarding potentially harmful material, with libraries given 60 days to address the issue before facing potential legal action. In response to concerns over the vague definitions of what constitutes harmful material, the Idaho Library Association warned that the law could restrict access to information for the public.
Public education was a major focus of the session, with significant investment in improving run-down public school buildings and supporting high school graduates seeking to enter in-demand careers. Governor Brad Little highlighted the poor condition of some public school facilities during his State of the State address, emphasizing the need for improvement. The Legislature approved $2 billion in spending over the next decade to address these issues, with a majority of lawmakers also supporting the Idaho LAUNCH program, which offers grants for high school graduates pursuing various in-demand careers. The program has seen significant interest, with over 13,500 applications received or in progress.
Despite the passage of several controversial bills targeting LGBTQ+ residents, the session also saw the defeat of a bill that would have used public taxpayer funds to subsidize private education tuition. While Idaho’s strongly Republican Legislature has a history of passing laws restricting LGBTQ+ rights, the session also featured important legislation focused on public education and workforce development. The session, which was initially planned to end in March but extended into April, ultimately concluded with the passage of key bills and the approval of significant funding for education and career development programs.
