EDUCATION – Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions requiring permission for instruction addressing human sexuality.
Idaho's H 239 requires public schools to obtain written parental permission before offering any instruction addressing "human sexuality" as broadly defined in the bill - including topics like sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender ideology. Schools must notify parents 14 days in advance, describe the content, and provide materials for review; parents must submit written permission within one week for their child to attend such instruction. If permission is not received, schools must provide alternative instruction that meets graduation requirements but avoids the specified topics. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all Idaho public school students and their parents or guardians.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 14, 2025
Signed Apr 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill Text
→
Engrossment 1
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amendment adds a new section requiring written parental permission before students can receive instruction on human sexuality. It also clarifies that the legislature does not intend for such instruction to be required in public schools and strengthens enforcement by requiring school boards to investigate violations and limiting statutory damages to actual damages only.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly states that human sexuality instruction is not required in Idaho public schools, and adds requirements for school boards to investigate violations and adopt policies for handling complaints.
REQUIREMENT
Added a statement clarifying that human sexuality instruction is not required in Idaho public schools.
ENFORCEMENT
Changed the remedy for violations by removing the $250 statutory damages provision and requiring parents to exhaust other remedies before suing.
Added requirement that school boards must adopt policies to investigate alleged violations of the permission requirements.
Added provision that public school employees found to have violated the section may face disciplinary action.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2025 · House Mar 3, 2025
How they voted
30–4
Passed
Total votes 34
Mar 25, 2025
D
Democratic4
100% Nay
R
Republican30
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Amendments
3
Apr 1, 2025
Signed into law
Reported Signed by Governor on March 31, 2025 Session Law Chapter 234 Effective: 07/01/2025
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rules Suspended: Ayes 68 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 2, read in full as required – PASSED - 56-10-4AYES – Alfieri, Andrus, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Cheatum, Clow, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Horman, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, S
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Concurred in Senate Amendments
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Introduced
Amendments reported printed
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Introduced
Amendments ordered printed
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Placed in the Committee of the Whole
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Education
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rules Suspended: Ayes 67 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 3, read in full as required – PASSED - 58-12-0AYES – Alfieri, Andrus, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Horman, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redm
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Feb 17, 2025
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Education
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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