Idaho Politics & News
The Daily Signal covers Idaho politics with reporting on state governance, education policy, and the Gem State’s commitment to constitutional principles and resistance to federal overreach.
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Idaho AG Hails Pro-Life Win
Idaho has won a major pro-life victory in state court. Judge Jason Scott of Idaho’s 4th Judicial District Court on Friday held that there was no expansive right to an abortion under the state’s constitution while acknowledging the state’s two exemptions to the general ban on the procedure. The ruling follows a separate win last…Jacob Adams -
Justice Department Drops Biden-Era Idaho Abortion Lawsuit
The Department of Justice has dropped a Biden-era lawsuit that had attempted to compel Idaho to allow abortions in violation of the state’s Defense of Life Act. The move comes after a yearslong battle the pro-life state has had with the leadership of the Department of Justice under then-President Joe Biden. The Biden administration had…Jacob Adams -
Idaho Governor Signs $50 Million Private School Choice Bill into Law
THE CENTER SQUARE—Idaho Gov. Brad Little just unlocked $50 million to expand private school choice starting next school year. Little signed House Bill 93 into law on Thursday. The measure provides a $5,000 tax credit for families’ education expenses, including private school transportation, tuition, supplies, and tutors. It also provides up to $7,500 for special…Tom Joyce -
‘You Will Resign, or We’ll Make This Ugly’: Idaho National Guardsman Punished for Biblical Values
A Christian infantry officer is now being punished by the Idaho Army National Guard for using his First Amendment right to speak out against the LGBTQ+ ideology that he believes is harming children. In 2023, the officer posted about some of his deeply held beliefs on his private social media account while running for political office in…Sarah Holliday -
Accidental Release Reveals Forthcoming Supreme Court Ruling on Idaho Abortion Law
The Supreme Court appears prepared to allow emergency room doctors in Idaho to perform abortions in certain situations, according to a copy of a forthcoming court ruling accidentally posted Wednesday. The apparent 6-3 decision reinstates a lower court’s order that required Idaho hospitals to perform emergency abortions to protect the health of the mother. The…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
Over the Left’s Objections, Idaho Enacts Law Defining ‘Male,’ ‘Female’
The state of Idaho is on a roll when it comes to pushing against LGBT ideology. In April 2020, Idaho became the first state to enact legislation that prevented transgender-identifying athletes from participating in girls and women’s sports. The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, signed by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, declared it “a violation…Sarah Holliday -
Taxpayer Protection: Idaho Law Blocks Funding for ‘Gender-Transition’ Procedures
An Idaho law enacted Wednesday (H. 668) protects taxpayers from paying for “gender transition” procedures in a variety of ways. The legislation “adds to existing law,” namely the Vulnerable Child Protection (VCAP) Act passed in 2023, which prevented physicians from harming minors with gender-transition surgeries or hormones. The Legislature declared in H. 668 that “public funds shall not be…Joshua Arnold -
Hell, No: Federal Court Banishes Idaho Satanists’ Abortion Lawsuit
In June of 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade and clarified that there was no constitutional right to abortion. Within minutes of the court’s ruling, hard-line liberals across the nation were howling about restricted access to abortion and devising new and novel ways…Sarah Parshall Perry -
How Blacks’ Experience in Idaho Differs From National Narrative
A remarkable study highlights a barely known exception to the generally accepted truism that black Americans’ poverty and unemployment rates are considerably higher than those of whites. Idaho is the only state in the nation where blacks earn more than whites, and their income also tops that of all other races and ethnic groups, according…Arthur Goldberg -
Idaho Supreme Court Refuses to ‘Read Fundamental Right to Abortion’ Into State Constitution
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court held in June that the U.S. Constitution “does not confer a right to abortion” and, therefore, abortion advocates will be challenging pro-life laws in state courts under state constitutions. On Thursday, the Idaho Supreme Court upheld that state’s ban on abortion, holding that “we cannot…Thomas Jipping -
Pro-Life ‘Trigger’ Laws Take Effect in Idaho, Tennessee, Texas
Life is now officially protected in three more states. Idaho, Tennessee, and Texas have anti-abortion “trigger” laws—pro-life laws restricting abortion—that went into effect Thursday. The three states are among more than a dozen states to pass trigger laws protecting the unborn that would take effect following the Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling in…Virginia Allen -
Female Athletes Ask Court to Allow Idaho Law Banning Males From Women’s Sports to Go Into Effect
College track and cross-country athlete Madison Kenyon has been forced to compete against a biological male on five occasions. She lost every time. “Losing unfairly to someone who has natural advantages is frustrating and unmotivating,” said Kenyon, a sophomore at Idaho State University, at a press conference after a court hearing on the legality of…Virginia Allen -
Critical Race Theory Drives Students Apart. Idaho Lawmakers Had Enough.
Officials at an Idaho middle school tried pressuring teachers to judge students by the color of their skin. But state lawmakers rejected this application of critical race theory, a deeply divisive philosophy driving many federal, state, and local policies today. Idaho lawmakers made the case that school officials should not force students to believe “any…Jonathan Butcher -
Far From Southern Border, Illegal Immigration Hurts Idaho, Lawmaker Says
Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, isn’t from a southern border state, but he says illegal immigration still adversely affects the Gem State. “I mean, drug and sex trafficking impacts everyone,” Fulcher says. “And we’re feeling the effects of that,” he adds. “Our citizens, our taxpayers as well. We have to pay for services through federal taxes…Rachel del Guidice -
Judge Blocks Idaho Law Preventing Transgender Athletes From Competing in Women’s Sports
U.S. District Judge David Nye of Idaho ordered a preliminary injunction on Monday temporarily halting a state law that prohibits transgender girls and women from competing in female athletics, The Idaho Statesman reported. Nye’s ruling will allow transgender girls and women to participate in women’s sports this upcoming fall at colleges and in secondary schools as the…Mary Rose Corkery -
Idaho Becomes First State to Protect Women’s Sports From Transgender Agenda
Idaho Gov. Brad Little has given women athletes renewed hope. Faced with a politically correct culture that is denying women the right to a fair playing field in sports, the Republican governor signed into law new protections for them. Recognizing “inherent differences between men and women,” Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act provides that “athletic…Doreen Denny -
‘It’s Not Fair’: Idaho Lawmaker to Introduce Bill Barring Biological Males From Girls Sports
An Idaho state legislator plans to introduce a bill that would require biologically male athletes to compete on boys sports teams, regardless of whether they identify as a transgender girl or not. Idaho state Rep. Barbara Ehardt is the latest Republican lawmaker across the country to introduce legislation ensuring girls aren’t forced to compete against…Peter Hasson -
Idaho Must Pay for Transgender Sex Offender’s Surgery, Court Rules
A federal appeals court has ruled that Idaho must pay for a transgender inmate’s surgery. Thirty-one-year-old Adree Edmo is a convicted sex offender who is scheduled to be released from jail in 2021. The sex offender was diagnosed with gender dysmorphia in 2012, identifies as a woman, and is currently housed in a men’s prison, according…Mary Margaret Olohan -
Idaho’s Spring Cleaning for Regulations an Idea Worth Replicating
Imagine if government rules had an expiration date. What if, each decade, every state law, regulation, or administrative rule ended by default unless lawmakers took specific action to keep it on the books? Idaho just did that — but not on purpose. The Idaho Legislature’s inaction in April allowed more than 8,000 pages of administrative…Phil Haunschild -
Idaho Voters Ponder Ballot Question on Expanding Medicaid
Idaho Republicans have made it clear to voters: Reject a proposition on the ballot that would expand eligibility for Medicaid as part of Obamacare. Nearly 30 Republican members of the Idaho House of Representatives and legislative candidates announced their opposition to Proposition 2, citing concerns that the ballot initiative would take away funding from other…Troy Worden