The Idaho Capital Sun will start publishing a legislative notebook at the end of each week to compile information about significant events in the Legislature and state government in one location, with the goal of assisting Idahoans in following significant bills, resolutions, and memorials through the legislative process.
To be completely honest, the legislative notebook will not be the ultimate source of comprehensive legislative coverage that includes in-depth context and analysis. In addition to our sister publications through our parent nonprofit, States Newsroom, and our D.C. bureau that provides you with daily news from Capitol Hill, we hope you have re-signed up for our free emailed newsletter, The Sunrise, which features all of our in-depth content and reporting from Idaho Capital Sun reporters.
A brief and unvarnished summary of the bills that were presented, reviewed by committees, discussed on the floor of the Idaho House and Senate, and whether Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed (or vetoed) significant pieces of legislation into law will be included in the legislative notebook.
Any information we have about what Idahoans can anticipate from the upcoming week of legislative action will also be included. The session can go by extremely fast, particularly as our legislators’ time in Boise draws to a close (typically at the end of March or the beginning of April), and committee agendas are frequently not issued until the night before a meeting. Keeping that in mind, we’ll try our best to get you ready for next week.
We’ll also share some amusing observations we’ve made throughout the session, such as the week’s top quotes and social media posts, images that might not be featured in our regular coverage, and any other tidbits of information that we think you’ll find useful or interesting as you follow how lawmakers are spending their time.
Governor Brad Little of Idaho’s State of the State speech
In a 22-minute address to state lawmakers and other public officials on Monday, Idaho Governor Brad Little kicked off the state’s 2025 legislative session by advocating for more tax breaks, bonuses for wildland firefighters, and more funding for public schools.
The address focused largely on boosting state savings accounts, lowering taxes, lowering regulations, giving teachers salaries, and increasing financing for public schools. This year, the governor put out a $50 million plan to increase educational options for families in Idaho by utilizing public funds to fund private and religious education—a practice known as school choice.
On Monday, Little unveiled a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget along with his State of the State address. General fund expenditures in the proposed budget are $5.2 billion, a 4.6% increase over the current budget.
Little’s budget proposal saves a record $1.4 billion in state rainy day funds and leaves a $200 million ending balance at the end of the fiscal year.
Interest-related legislation in the first week of the 2025 session
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House Concurrent Resolution 2
: Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, the resolution commends the Boise State University volleyball team for forfeiting its matches against San Jos State University in protest of the team having a transgender athlete. It reaffirms Idaho s commitment to protecting female athletes under Title IX, and it calls on the Mountain West Conference and the NCAA to revoke its policies allowing transgender athletes to participate in sports. It was introduced in the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday, and on Thursday it was
approved by the committee
and sent to the House floor for consideration with a do pass recommendation. It is on the House s third reading calendar and may be taken up in the coming days of the session
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House Joint Memorial 1
: Sponsored by Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, the memorial introduced Tuesday pushes to restore the authority of
defining marriage to the states
and urges the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage. It calls for the definition of marriage to be a union of one man and one woman. The memorial may be taken up by the House State Affairs Committee for a full public hearing in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 2
: Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, the bill introduced Wednesday would
increase the needed majority to pass
a citizen-led ballot initiative or referendum by Idaho voters from a simple majority threshold of 50% up to 60%. The bill may be taken up by the House State Affairs Committee for a full public hearing in the coming days of the session.
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House Bill 7
: Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, the bill introduced Thursday
would implement a $300 minimum fine
for adults possessing three ounces or less of marijuana. The bill may be taken up by the Idaho House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee for a full public hearing in the coming days of the session.
What to anticipate at the Idaho Legislature next week
Committee on Joint Finance and Appropriations
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On Monday, the committee will consider budget information relating to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
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On Friday, the committee is expected to set the maintenance budgets for all state agencies. The committee s co-chairmen describe maintenance budgets as bare bones versions of last year s budgets, with all of the one-time money and projects removed. The maintenance budgets are simply meant to keep the lights on for state agencies.
Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee
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On Monday, the committee is expected to hold an introductory hearing for anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) draft legislation brought forward by Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa.
This week’s quote
We will make sure that school choice is supervised, just as we do with every taxpayer dime spent on government. Why? Because taxpayers demand and deserve government accountability, which is an Idaho value. Any school choice proposal I would consider must be implemented the Idaho way, which entails being equitable, responsible, transparent, and accountable, just as we demand of our public schools. It must give priority to the families that are most in need and refrain from depriving public schools of funding.In his 2025 State of the State address, Governor Brad Little of Idaho
The week’s top social media post
Check out Carly Flandro’s comprehensive flow chart on how a bill becomes legislation if, like me, you are watching the Idaho legislative session for the first time or simply need a reminder on the procedure. #idpol #idedu www.idahoednews.org/news/spellin
2025-01-06T23:06:42.519Z Emma Epperly (@emmaepperly.bsky.social)
How to track the activity of Idaho Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature during the session
Here are some resources we use to keep tabs on the Legislature’s activities and learn how to make your opinion known on the topics that are most important to you.
How to locate your lawmakers:Enter your home address and ZIP code on the parliamentary Services Office’s website to find out which parliamentary district you reside in and the contact details for your representatives there. The three lawmakers—two members of the House and one senator—who represent your district will show up when you enter that information. You can click on their photos to get their phone number and email address.
To locate committee agendas, visit the Idaho Legislature’s website at legislature.idaho.gov and select the links for all Senate and House committee agendas on the right side of the page.
How to see legislative activity on the House and Senate floors as well as in committees:Through a program called Idaho in Session, Idaho Public Television collaborates with the Legislative Services Office and the Idaho Department of Administration to stream live content from the House and Senate floors as well as all legislative committees. Go to https://www.idahoptv.org/shows/idahoinsession/Legislature/ and choose the stream you want to view to see the activity.
How to provide a remote statement at a committee’s public hearing:Go to the website of the committee in question and select the “Testimony Registration (Remote and In Person)” tab at the top to register to testify remotely for that committee.
Where to look for state budget records:Visit the website of the Legislative Services Office’s Budget and Policy Analysis Division at https://legislature.idaho.gov/lso/bpa/budgetinformation/.
How to keep track of which bills have reached Governor Little’s desk and what he has done with them, including vetoes: Go to https://gov.idaho.gov/legislative-sessions/2025-session/, the governor’s website. When the page is updated, you can enter your email address at the bottom of the page to receive updates directly in your inbox.
How to track the activity of Idaho Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature during the session
Here are some resources we use to keep tabs on the Legislature’s activities and learn how to make your opinion known on the topics that are most important to you.
How to locate your lawmakers:Enter your home address and ZIP code on the parliamentary Services Office’s website to find out which parliamentary district you reside in and the contact details for your representatives there. The three lawmakers—two members of the House and one senator—who represent your district will show up when you enter that information. You can click on their photos to get their phone number and email address.
To locate committee agendas, visit the Idaho Legislature’s website at legislature.idaho.gov and select the links for all Senate and House committee agendas on the right side of the page.
How to see legislative activity on the House and Senate floors as well as in committees:Through a program called Idaho in Session, Idaho Public Television collaborates with the Legislative Services Office and the Idaho Department of Administration to stream live content from the House and Senate floors as well as all legislative committees. Go to https://www.idahoptv.org/shows/idahoinsession/Legislature/ and choose the stream you want to view to see the activity.
How to provide a remote statement at a committee’s public hearing:Go to the website of the committee in question and select the “Testimony Registration (Remote and In Person)” tab at the top to register to testify remotely for that committee.
Where to look for state budget records:Visit the website of the Legislative Services Office’s Budget and Policy Analysis Division at https://legislature.idaho.gov/lso/bpa/budgetinformation/.
How to keep track of which bills have reached Governor Little’s desk and what he has done with them, including vetoes: Go to https://gov.idaho.gov/legislative-sessions/2025-session/, the governor’s website. When the page is updated, you can enter your email address at the bottom of the page to receive updates directly in your inbox.
GET THE HEADLINES FOR THE MORNING.
