LEGISLATURE
Education news, including daily roundups, from the 2026 session
Step by step, legislative leaders are trying to dismantle Gov. Brad Little’s spending and tax proposals. Either way, the budgets are teetering — and if anything goes wrong, K-12 and higher ed could pay a big share of the price.
K-12 public schools would be exempt. But colleges and universities wouldn’t be immune.
Some justices appeared skeptical that the Idaho Constitution prohibits the state from funding private education. INSIDE: Photo gallery.
Idaho colleges and universities are working through compliance with Idaho’s latest anti-DEI law, passed last year. Two right-wing groups say the colleges and the State Board are breaking the law.
The $1,700 credit refunds donations to organizations that offer students scholarships covering tuition, tutoring and other education expenses.
For more than a decade, no legislator has put more fingerprints on education budgets — or had more of a voice in the private school choice debate. But as Horman leaves the Statehouse, the Legislature will have to wrestle Idaho’s biggest budget crunch in nearly 20 years, and implement a new private school tax credit law.
Rural public school leaders say the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance is a “lifeline” for supplementing curriculum.
Gov. Brad Little worked in a raft of rosy remarks about the Idaho economy on Monday. And he talked a lot about the need for cuts. The strange mixed message sets the table for what could be a strange session.
Virtual schools and universities aren’t immune from more than $850 million in cuts, reversions and transfers aimed at balancing the state’s budget.
Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, served as House Education vice chairman in 2025, frequently aligning with hardline conservatives on the divided panel.
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Statehouse roundup, 4.2.26: House passes teachers’ union restrictions, as session adjourns
The union restrictions aren’t new — lawmakers have debated them in past sessions, and earlier this session — but the issue came back to life in the waning days of the 2026 session.
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Statehouse roundup, 4.1.26: IDLA, virtual school budget cuts clear Senate
In other news, an eleventh-hour bill restricting teachers’ union activities cleared the Senate — after tense debate and over bipartisan opposition.
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Statehouse roundup, 3.31.26: Private school tax credit followup bill heads to Little
The House approved about $229 million in cash transfers, as a possible cushion if state revenues don’t rebound in the coming months.
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Statehouse roundup, 3.30.26: Senate ‘radiator caps’ bill to revive teachers’ union restrictions
In other Statehouse news, Gov. Brad Little has acted on a host of education bills. (Spoiler alert: His veto stamp remains unused for the year.)
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Statehouse roundup, 3.27.26: Senate committee rejects amendments to IDLA bill
In other news, a bill to criminalize violations of Idaho’s bathroom law passed the Senate, and goes to Gov. Brad Little’s desk.
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Statehouse roundup, 3.26.26: After a disjointed hearing, IDLA bill is on hold
In other news Thursday, budget-writers earmarked money for a $5 million special education program.
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Statehouse roundup, 3.25.26: IDLA budget cut clears House
The vote followed months of discussion over reforms that culminated in a heated House floor debate Wednesday.
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Statehouse roundup, 3.24.26: High-needs special education bill heads to Little’s desk
In other news, GOP leadership introduced a new policy bill making long-term cuts to the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance — bypassing the deadlocked House Education Committee.
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Statehouse roundup, 3.23.26: House committee rejects policy bill on IDLA as budget cuts advance
Also Monday, the Senate approved three education budget bills after rehashing recent taxing and spending decisions.
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Statehouse roundup, 3.20.26: JFAC slashes IDLA budget while largely sparing virtual charters
In other news, the House Education Committee sent a $5 million high-needs special education funding bill to the House floor.