LEGISLATURE
Education news, including daily roundups, from the 2026 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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Democrats aren’t buying it. Also, Gov. Brad Little says special education funding is a ‘critical’ issue that will be addressed after the state budget is ironed out.
Idaho faces a projected $555 million gap between spending requests and available revenues — a 10% gulf. And this time around, Idaho won’t get a truckload of federal money to erase the shortfall.
The new year is shaping up to be another hectic one for education policy. Here’s what we’ll writing about.
A Jan. 15 hearing will bring the issue to the legislative committee that will ultimately debate how much the state can spend to train medical school students — and where.
The move comes as the Legislature’s budget committee is staring at shortfalls this year and next year.
Each side will have 30 minutes on Jan. 23 to make arguments and answer questions from the court’s five justices.
With her $50 million proposal on hold, the state superintendent wants to use existing funds to help schools serve high-needs special education students.
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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.