01/22/2026
We're BACK! Here are your updates for the first week of the legislative session.
[Week 1] Legislative Update This Week’s Highlights:
Key Legislative Actions:
STATE - Education
Lawmakers are taking a close look at Idaho’s K–12 education budget, and there is concern about how schools would manage if funding is reduced.Idaho spends about $2.7 billion on K–12 education each year. Some legislators asked what would happen if schools faced a 5% budget cut.The State Superintendent emphasized that schools are already stretched thin, especially when it comes to special education services.
Idaho schools face an estimated $100 million gap between what special education actually costs and what the state and federal government pay. Because of budget uncertainty, the state paused a larger special education funding proposal and instead is asking for smaller, targeted supports:
$5 million to help schools serve students with high support needs
$1 million to staff regional special education service offices that help districts coordinate services.
These requests would not fully fix the problem, but would help districts better support students with disabilities.
STATE - Education
A new bill, Senate Bill 1227, was introduced to help schools address the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The bill would create a statewide framework for how schools teach students about AI. The Idaho Department of Education would develop guidelines and standards for safe, responsible AI use in classrooms.The focus includes: student privacy and safety, helping students understand how AI works, supporting teachers with training and guidance. The goal is to prepare students for a future where AI is part of everyday life while making sure it is used responsibly.
STATE - Healthcare
JFAC, the Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee, has been meeting all week to discuss budgets from healthcare to education. State leaders were asked what will happen now that Idaho has cut or eliminated certain mental health services, especially services for people with serious mental illness. The honest answer from the Department was: they don’t really know yet.
When asked, "Why did the state cut these services?" the Department explained that they were required to meet budget holdbacks ordered by the Governor. Federal and state law require some services to be covered, but Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and peer support are not legally mandatory. There was active acknowledgement that there were very few options, but another option would have included cutting: youth and adult crisis centers, or Mobile crisis response teams. So the difficult choice was made to cut ACT and peer support instead even though leaders acknowledged this could cause problems later. The savings numbers being shared only show what the state pays today, not what the long-term impact will be.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about House Bill 345, which ended the “Healthy Connections” program. There were concerns regarding whether or not doctors may stop taking Medicaid patients because reimbursement is now too low. The Department says they are “monitoring” the situation and will help families find new providers if they reach out to the Department of Health and Welfare. One lawmaker summed it up by saying they fear the state has not fully considered the long-term consequences of these decisions.
Several legislators expressed concern that:
1.) Cutting preventive services may increase costs later
2.) People will fall through the cracks
3.) Emergency rooms, jails, hospitals, and crisis systems may end up paying the price
4.) Idaho may save money now but spend more later
FEDERAL - Discussion of moving IDEA from the Department of Education to Health and Human Services (HHS)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the law that guarantees children with disabilities the right to special education services and protections in school. Some people believe moving IDEA to HHS could improve coordination with health and behavioral health services, especially for children with complex needs. Others are concerned that this shift could weaken education-based protections, change how schools are held accountable, or blur the line between education rights and medical services. At this time, IDEA remains under the Department of Education, and no changes have been made. Families should know that any move like this would be a major change and would require action by Congress.
Get Involved!
You can use IPUL’s “Power of a Personal Story” template to craft testimony to share with legislators. Other testimony tips can be found in the padlet as well. You will find all our tips at this link https://shorturl.at/kSLOf
Looking Ahead:
1.) Fred Riggers Disability Awareness Dinner - In conjunction with the Fred Riggers Disability Advocacy Day, LINC and the Idaho SILC invite you to join us for the FRDAD Dinner taking place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 5:30-7:30pm at LINC, 1878 W. Overland Road, Boise. You can meet advocates from around Idaho, network, and enjoy time together kicking off CID’s Fred Riggers Disability Advocacy Day. Please RSVP to: https://forms.gle/SRQi2jBYDDdfkPvf6
2.) Fred Riggers’ Disability Awareness/Advocacy Day - Taking place on February 4, 2026 from 10:00AM - 1:00PM (MST), on the first floor of the Capitol rotunda. The award ceremony commences at noon. This year’s event will feature a disability history exhibit!
Stay Connected:
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates, and visit our website for more resources: ipulidaho.org
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