Idaho educators could soon be required to show fetal ultrasounds in class. Senate Bill 1046, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Nichols (R-Middleton), requires educators to show “a high-definition ultrasound video” lasting at least three minutes to fifth- through 12th-graders studying contraception, sexually transmitted diseases or human biology. The House passed the legislation this week and it now heads to the governor’s desk.
In another blow to common-sense classroom legislation, Gov. Brad Little yesterday signed House Bill 41, the anti-pride flag bill sponsored by Rep. Ted Hill (R-Eagle). Idaho Education Association members had lobbied against the bill, which further restricts how educators teach and practice free speech.
Other hotly debated pieces of legislation that advanced include:
Chaplains in schools. House Bill 410, which would allow religious chaplains in public schools in either paid or unpaid positions, rapidly advanced through the House after being introduced just last Friday. It passed the House on Thursday and now heads to the Senate. The legislation is part of a nationwide push to put chaplains in public schools in an effort to address policy issues “from a biblical world view,” the Washington Post reported.
Public camping and sleeping. A bill that would enforce a ban on public camping or sleeping — affecting the approximately 3 percent of Idaho public school students impacted by homelessness — also passed the Idaho House of Representatives this week.
Senate Bill 1141 would supersede local control by mandating all governmental entities to enforce the bill. The bill will apply only to cities with populations over 100,000: Boise, Nampa and Meridian. Failure to enforce the law could lead to a $10,000 fine. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Daycare standards. House Bill 243, which will loosen childcare standards to increase the number of available providers, passed the Senate this week and now heads to the governor. Opponents say the bill will could put children in harm’s way and lower the state’s already lax daycare laws.
Graduation requirements. House Bill 298, an effort by Rep. Wendy Horman (R-Idaho Falls) to put control of graduation requirements in the hands of the Legislature, was returned to the House Ways and Means Committee this week. That doesn’t mean the bill is dead, however: IEA members can take action by using this this contact form to tell legislators the graduation requirements system already works as it should.
Food and healthcare for undocumented immigrants. House Bill 135, which would prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing food and healthcare, passed the House this week. If the bill becomes law, undocumented people will be banned from accessing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, temporary shelter, and soup kitchens and food pantries that receive money from the state. The bill includes an exception for emergency medical treatment.
Currently, any low-income person in Idaho is eligible for healthcare services like prenatal and postnatal care. Immigrants without legal status are already excluded from most public programs in Idaho. IEA opposes the bill because all Idaho students need access to food, shelter and healthcare to thrive in school.
Higher-needs student funding. Senate Bill 1096, introduced by Sen. James Woodward (R-Sagle), passed the Senate this week. The bill would distribute more money for students who require more attention and funding, including gifted and talented students, special education students, students learning English, low-income students, and students who attend alternative school. It is awaiting debate on the House floor.
Medical treatment. All Idaho schools will now have even less leeway to deal with student health issues thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 1023, which is heading to Gov. Brad Little’s desk for a signature. Under the bill, schools cannot mandate vaccines or any other medical treatment. As Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen (R-Idaho Falls) pointed out, this will have far-reaching consequences, pointing out that a child with head lice could not be sent home for treatment under the bill.
Severe behavior issues. The Senate finally passed House Bill 236 more than a month after it was introduced into committee. The bipartisan bill will allow school boards to deny enrollment to pupils with severe behavior issues if they are being disenrolled in lieu of discipline or expulsion. The bill will also require parents and guardians to disclose if a student has been convicted of a severe crime.
Rural construction funding. Rural public schools could soon secure more money for construction. House Bill 338, which is headed to the governor’s desk for a signature, increases funding for the school facilities cooperative fund by $25 million.
Other Bills in the Mix
Career ladder. Sen. Jim Woodward (R-Sagle) sponsored Senate Bill 1095, which would update career ladder compensation for Idaho educators. The proposed changes would permanently revise salary allocations for three professional tiers: residency, professional and advanced professional. The base level for each of those tiers would increase by $6,359. It is still awaiting a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee.
Districts of Innovation. Rep. Jack Nelsen (R-Jerome) introduced House Bill 392, which would allow public school districts to be designated as “districts of innovation.” Qualifying districts would be exempt from certain Idaho statutes, administrative rules, and State Board of Education policies. Districts would need to create “local innovation” plans to qualify. It is awaiting a hearing in the House Education Committee.
Educational materials. House Bill 351, sponsored by Rep. Dale Hawkins (R-Fernwood) and Sen. Cindy Carlson (R-Riggins), would require districts to post supplemental educational materials, textbooks and course syllabi online. It has passed the House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Education Committee.
Empowering Parents. Senate Bill 1142, sponsored by voucher co-sponsor Sen. Lori Den Hartog (R-Meridian), would repeal the Empowering Parents program and return its $30 million in funding to the state general fund. Such a move could create the groundwork for expanding Idaho’s new voucher program. The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee.
Funding. House Bill 350, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Harris (R-Lewiston), would mandate that funds distributed by the state for school districts/charter schools be used specifically for the purpose it was given. If the funds are used for something else, the state would be reimbursed. The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee.
In addition, Rep. Ben Fuhriman (R-Shelley) introduced House Bill 291, which would create a $3 million fund to help address the budget gap in addressing costs for students with disabilities. The bill has already been passed by the House; the Senate Education Committee advanced the bill to the Senate floor this week.
Levies. Senate Bill 1094, sponsored by Sen. Ben Toews (R-Coeur d’Alene), would increase the maximum duration of levies from two years to six years. The bill passed the Senate and is awaiting a hearing in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
Literacy. House Bill 383, sponsored by Rep. Wendy Horman (R-Idaho Falls), includes a four-part plan to increase reading proficiency: align Idaho law with science of reading standards, have districts select their own reading assessments, fund a “curated list of digital interventions” and establish interventions for the lowest-performing schools. It is still awaiting a hearing in the House Education Committee.
Opt-in to sex education. House Bill 239, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Ehardt (R-Idaho Falls), would require parents and guardians to opt in to “all sexually explicit material.” It passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Outcomes-based funding. Senate Bill 1147, sponsored by Sens. Dave Lent (R-Idaho Falls) and Kelly Anthon (R-Burley), would add an outcomes-based component to the public school funding formula. The bill would make $35 million available, but that money would be tied to math outcomes and attaining college and career readiness credentials. The legislation already passed the Senate but has been held in the House.
Parent tech awareness program. The Senate passed Senate Bill 1070, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Cook (R-Idaho Falls), to create a parent tech awareness program to combat “online threats.” It has been referred to the House Education Committee.
Parental rights. House Bill 352, co-sponsored by Rep. Dale Hawkins (R-Fernwood) and Sen. Cindy Carlson (R-Riggins), is being pitched as a parental rights bill. Among other provisions, HB 352 would allow parents to reject any activity or subject and withdraw their children from it. The bill would also prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Senate Education Committee advanced it to the Senate floor this week.
The Stragglers
IEA has been watching several other bills that have not made progress recently:
Bible reading in class. House Bill 162 would require all public school teachers to read a passage from the Bible to their classrooms every day “without instruction or comment.” The bill’s text includes “reasonable accommodations” for teachers and students who object. The U.S. Supreme Court barred public school-sponsored prayer and Bible reading in 1963. The bill has yet to be heard by the House Education Committee.
More cellphone bills. The House Education Committee heard a bill, House Bill 229, from Rep. Jaron Crane (R-Nampa) that would ban the use of “wireless electronic communication devices” during cls time. The bill has yet to be taken up before the House Education Committee.
Rep. Wendy Horman (R-Idaho Falls) and Rep. Chris Mathias (D-Boise) proposed a “Mobile Device Policy Fund” addition to the Phone Free Learning Act, an executive order made by Governor Little that is already in place. The fund would issue grants of $1,500 to help districts create their own policies. House Bill 225 has been re-referred to the House Education Committee.
Education savings accounts. Senate Bill 1068, brought forward by former legislator Steven Thayn, would allow public schools, including charters, to offer education savings accounts for tutoring, supplies and other items. It is awaiting a hearing in the House Education Committee.
Guns in schools. House Bill 273, introduced by Rep. Ted Hill (R-Eagle), would require educators to opt into an enhanced concealed weapon training course or a completed Police Officer Standards Training course; the training must include a refresher course once per year. Once trained, any school employee could carry a concealed weapon into the classroom. The bill would also require all K-12 schools to remove “Gun Free Zone” signs from their campuses. It is awaiting a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee.
Priority access to public charter schools. If House Bill 163 passes, students whose parents are active-duty military will receive priority registration at the state’s public charter schools. The bill stalled before reaching the full House and has been sent back to the Education Committee.
Rural facilities school funding. Boise Education Association member Rep. Soñia Galaviz (D-Boise) and Rep. Rod Furniss (R-Rigby) co-sponsored House Bill 75, which would create a new fund to support public education facilities. The fund would draw $25 million from the public school facilities cooperative fund and $28 million from the public school health insurance participation fund. To access the funds, public schools could apply for a need-based grant to pay for school construction, remodeling and maintenance, with priority given to rural districts. The bill is still awaiting a hearing in the House Education Committee.
Ten Commandments. House Bill 238 would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments. It has been referred to the House Education Committee.
Union busting. House Bill 98 – a union-busting bill that only targets IEA – passed the House in February but is still waiting for a hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee.
The House State Affairs Committee advanced a bill that targets the Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho; if enacted, the legislation would severely limit Idaho fire fighters’ collective bargaining rights. PFFI, just like IEA, has been able to collectively bargain for more than 50 years. It is not clear if House Bill 340 will receive a hearing in the Commerce and Human Resources Committee, where it has been referred.
