2020 Idaho Legislature
House passes transgender athletics ban
Democrats led the charge against House Bill 500, calling it hurtful, unnecessary and unconstitutional. But 51 Republicans sided with Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, sending her bill to the Senate.
Statehouse roundup, 2.26.20: Governor’s teacher pay plan clears a major hurdle
Following two days of testimony, the House Education Committee voted unanimously to advance a $223 million proposal that would raise pay for veteran teachers.
A.G.’s opinion: transgender athletics bill beset with possible legal flaws
“I have concerns about the defensibility of the proposed legislation,” assistant chief deputy attorney general Brian Kane wrote in an analysis released Tuesday. The House could vote on the bill Wednesday.
School election consolidation bill heads to House floor
Rep. Wendy Horman and Sen. Lori Den Hartog say their bill will improve voter turnout and engagement. Education groups oppose the bill, which would eliminate March and August school elections.
Analysis: Another thing we don’t know about Idaho’s young readers
Only 64 percent of kindergartners left school last spring with grade-level reading skills. Boise State University researchers have no hard answers — but no shortage of theories.
Statehouse roundup, 2.20.20: Higher ed budget takes shape, as state leaders seek a long-range plan
Gov. Brad Little, Idaho’s newly hired college and university presidents and the State Board of Education are trying to hammer out a new higher education funding formula. One of these behind-the-scenes meetings took place Wednesday.
Little: Social-emotional program is ‘the right thing to do’
“The challenges our students face are almost incredible,” said Gov. Brad Little, defending his $1 million proposal to train school employees in social-emotional issues.
Lawmakers hear emotional testimony — but take no action — on transgender bill
Supporters called it a matter of fairness. Opponents called it “government-ordered discrimination” and “state-sanctioned exploitation.” A committee vote could come Thursday.
Idaho’s social-emotional debate: a national perspective
“The reception Idaho leaders faced is a slice of pushback that occasionally bubbles up around the country as interest grows in social-emotional learning efforts,” Evie Blad of Education Week wrote Thursday.
Statehouse roundup, 2.18.20: Transgender bill will get a Wednesday hearing
In other Statehouse news, lawmakers took nearly $265,000 from Idaho’s career-technical education program Tuesday — after learning the money wasn’t going where they expected it to go.