Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 93, the most unaccountable and expansive private school voucher program option the Idaho Legislature considered this session, into law on Thursday.
The voucher, which is in the form of a refundable tax credit, will provide up to $7,500 per student to be used on private education expenses. Now, $50 million of public money will be set aside from the state general fund to pay for private schooling.
“With the passage of the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit program, Idaho boasts even more abundant schooling options for Idaho students and families,” Little said in a statement. He continued, “Idaho can have it all – strong public schools AND education freedom.”
Little’s statement made no mention of the vociferous opposition against HB 93, much of which is centered on the bill’s lack of accountability. Little seemed to agree during an Idaho Press Club forum earlier this week, as Idaho Education News first reported.
“There’s not enough accountability in it,” Little said about HB 93 at the forum.
Idaho Education Association President Layne McInelly highlighted what’s to come in IEA’s response to Little’s signing.
“Bringing vouchers to Idaho is a huge mistake,” he said. “House Bill 93 is just the beginning. Voucher proponents — eager to help out-of-state billionaires plunder Idaho’s public school budget — are already planning how to exploit and expand this program during 2026’s legislative session.”
Governor’s Office, Legislators Mum on Feedback
HB 93 has been a flashpoint for voters since the start of the session. For months, voters have packed town halls – which are still continuing even after the signing – to listen to debates about using public money for private education.
The governor’s office said it had been deluged with emails and voicemails – so many voicemails, in fact, that the office switched to an automated system to handle the calls. Governor Little’s office has so far refused to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests from Idaho Education News, among others, seeking information about the outreach from constituents.
As Idaho Education News first reported, Little told reporters at an Idaho Press Club forum that “some of the negative feedback has been an overreach.”
McInelly Promises Greater Electoral Engagement
IEA members – who have spent months testifying, lobbying, writing, calling and organizing against HB 93 – won’t take its passage lightly, McInelly said in his statement.
“Our members will fight every step of the way to limit and roll back the damage caused by this legislation,” he said. “They will wade into electoral politics with renewed vigor to ensure future Idaho Legislatures support students and public schools — not out-of-state lobbyists and their billionaire benefactors.”
IEA Political Director Chris Parri said if other states are any indication, HB 93 will soon become a hot-button electoral issue.
“These programs are by no means universally popular — voters in Colorado, Kentucky and Nebraska recently overturned their vouchers,” Parri said. “IEA has political power. As President McInelly said in his statement, ‘No one fights for public schools like IEA members.’ IEA members aren’t done with this issue yet.”
