The big news: The Idaho Education Association took strong action against Gov. Brad Little for signing House Bill 516, the union-busting bill that will limit the ways members communicate and organize within their own workplaces, during the 2026 Delegate Assembly.
• Members brought forward no fewer than four New Business Items (NBIs) designed to rebuke the governor. NBIs set the business for the union for the year ahead.
• Ultimately, members decided that a vote of no confidence and a news release would be the best course of action to demonstrate their extreme displeasure.
• Debate continued for more than an hour on Friday and picked up again on Saturday.
The news release: As directed by the NBI, IEA released the following to the media on Tuesday:
IEA Members Issue Vote of No Confidence in Gov. Brad Little After House Bill 516 Signing
Idaho Education Association members issued a vote of no confidence in Idaho Gov. Brad Little over the weekend after he signed House Bill 516, the union-busting legislation attacking the right of educators to organize and advocate in their workplaces, into law on April 10.
The action was part of IEA’s Delegate Assembly, the union’s annual business meeting.
During more than an hour of discussion, the delegates overwhelmingly supported the motion. The debate also included the possibility of revoking the governor’s Champion of Education award, which was presented to him by the union in 2024. Delegates compared Gov. Little’s actions on education-related legislation in recent years, including signing Idaho’s first voucher scheme into law in 2025, to the support shown by the award’s other recipients. Previous awardees include former Idaho Rep. Julie Yamamoto (2023) and Quinn Perry, former deputy director of the Idaho School Boards Association (2025). Members presented the 2026 Champion of Education award to Idaho Rep. Jack Nelsen on Saturday.
“The governor should not share this award with people who truly champion education and our members,” said IEA member Peggy Hoy.
Little has enjoyed a positive relationship with IEA members, including endorsements and door-to-door campaigning during his gubernatorial races in 2018 and 2022.
“Our members have spoken clearly,” said IEA President Layne McInelly. “They are angry and frustrated with the governor. They feel his choice to sign House Bill 516, when there were so many reasons to veto it, is a betrayal of his claims to be a supporter of Idaho’s educators and public schools.”
Little signed House Bill 516 despite recognizing the new law could lead to discrimination against union members. More than 1,000 Idahoans called and emailed the governor’s office urging him to veto the bill. Public education stakeholders and supporters also publicly and privately urged him to reject the bill.
• The media quickly picked up on the news release, with coverage appearing in Idaho Ed News, KREM, KBOI, KTVB, Idaho Capital Sun, KMVT, Boise State Public Radio, KPVI, KHQ, Coeur d’Alene Press, and more.
• The governor responded to media requests with a statement touting “transformative investments” in public schools.
The context: IEA’s vote of no confidence is its most pointed criticism of a governor in recent memory. Only one other politician has faced such a public backlash: Rep. Ted Hill (R-Eagle), whose IEA endorsement was revoked in 2024 after a string of anti-public education votes.
