Signed by Governor Brad Little

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that prohibits certain DEI-based practices in higher education, including admissions, hiring, employee incentives, employee training, and bias report systems in Idaho, effective July 1, 2025.

Highlights:

• Prohibits certain diversity, equity, and including (DEI) based practices in higher education, including admissions, hiring, employee incentives, employee training, and bias report systems in Idaho (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits DEI-based practices in admissions, hiring, employee incentives, employee training, and bias report systems as well as DEI offices and officer positions (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits higher education facilities from forcing students to enroll in courses “implemented with DEI principles” unless the chosen course of study is based on those principles (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires Higher Education Institutions would be held accountable through annual reporting to Attorney General Raúl Labrador and the Idaho Legislature, according to the bill (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that failure to comply will result in penalties from Labrador’s office (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that these provisions shall not affect centers and scholarships for Native American students (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall declare an emergency and take effect beginning July 1, 2025 (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that prohibits certain DEI-based practices in higher education, including admissions, hiring, employee incentives, employee training, and bias report systems in Idaho, effective July 1, 2025.

Highlights:

• Prohibits certain diversity, equity, and including (DEI) based practices in higher education, including admissions, hiring, employee incentives, employee training, and bias report systems in Idaho (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits DEI-based practices in admissions, hiring, employee incentives, employee training, and bias report systems as well as DEI offices and officer positions (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits higher education facilities from forcing students to enroll in courses “implemented with DEI principles” unless the chosen course of study is based on those principles (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires Higher Education Institutions would be held accountable through annual reporting to Attorney General Raúl Labrador and the Idaho Legislature, according to the bill (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that failure to comply will result in penalties from Labrador’s office (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that these provisions shall not affect centers and scholarships for Native American students (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall declare an emergency and take effect beginning July 1, 2025 (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text