Idaho Senate approves a slate of bills including literacy training, assisted-living rule changes and multiple budget maintenance bills

BOISE — On Feb. 24 the Idaho Senate advanced and in many cases passed a broad set of bills spanning education, health and human services, natural resources, licensing and the state budget.

The Senate voted to pass legislation that would expand statewide professional development in the “science of reading” for kindergarten through third-grade teachers (Senate Bill 10‑69), update rules for residential care and assisted-living communities (Senate Bill 11‑02), create a state depredation appeals process for livestock producers (Senate Bill 10‑12), and move several long‑running maintenance appropriations forward for public safety, health and human services, economic development and general government. Several technical and referral actions were also taken; multiple bills were sent to committee for further consideration or printed for referral.

Why it matters: the votes advance both policy changes and the state’s operating budgets. The literacy training bill carries a three‑year fiscal plan the sponsor said would fund statewide teacher and administrator training; the assisted‑living bill changes licensing and oversight practices in long‑term care settings; and the depredation appeals measure establishes a state board to hear livestock producers’ appeals when wildlife predation is disputed. Appropriation bills set maintenance funding and position counts for agencies going into fiscal 2026.

Education and literacy Senate Bill 10‑69, described by supporters as aligning teacher training with the “science of reading,” requires statewide professional development for K–3 teachers and elementary administrators and includes a fiscal note of $5,000,000 intended to begin a three‑year training cycle. Senator Burton Shaw said the bill aims to return Idaho instruction to evidence‑based phonics and early‑reading practices. The bill passed the Senate 22–13.

Cursive proficiency Senate Bill 10‑44 would strengthen requirements so that students must demonstrate cursive proficiency. Sponsor Senator Nichols argued cursive remains “an essential skill” for legal signatures, historical documents and cognitive development; the bill passed 29–6.

Assisted living and long‑term care Senate Bill 11‑02 updates Idaho’s regulatory framework for residential care and assisted‑living communities, allowing administrators to oversee multiple facilities, scheduling licensing surveys at least 30 days in advance (while preserving the department’s right to unannounced surveys), and creating a grant program funded by previously collected fines. Sponsor Senator Blaylock said the changes reduce redundant paperwork and aim to ease operational strain on providers; the bill passed unanimously (35–0).

Livestock depredation appeals Senate Bill 10‑12 creates an Idaho Depredating Wildlife Appeals Board composed of the directors of the Department of Agriculture and Fish and Game and a large‑animal veterinarian appointed by the governor. Sponsor Senator Burton Shaw said producers requested an independent, state‑level appeals path after inconsistent or delayed federal responses to suspected predator kills. The bill passed 34–1.

Bar regulation and professional licensing Senate Bill 10‑30, brought from the Idaho State Bar, raises annual bar fees by modest amounts (ranges described in committee materials) so the bar remains self‑funded; the bill passed 27–8. Senate Bill 10‑51 moves a long‑standing rule regarding child‑support license suspensions into statute with a specific change removing TANF recipients from an allowed good‑cause exemption; the bill passed unanimously (35–0).

Appropriations and maintenance budgets Senators advanced several fiscal‑year maintenance appropriations that set baseline budgets and full‑time position counts for agencies: - Public safety maintenance (Senate Bill 11‑07): total $546,223,200; includes Department of Corrections ($376,980,500; 2,254.85 FTE), Department of Juvenile Corrections ($60,263,200; 409 FTE) and Idaho State Police ($108,979,500; 658.76 FTE). Passed 34–1. - Health and Human Services maintenance (Senate Bill 11‑08): total roughly $5.3 billion (includes general, dedicated and federal funds; reported as a 3.2% reduction from prior year). Passed 30–4 with 1 absent. - Economic development maintenance (Senate Bill 11‑09): total $1,403,049,000; passed 34–1. - General government maintenance (Senate Bill 11‑10): multiple agencies totaling a net decrease from prior year; passed 34–1.

Other measures and referrals The Senate also passed a trapping and hunter education codification (Senate Bill 10‑13, 35–0) and a bill authorizing state or federal credit unions to accept certain state deposits with collateral requirements (Senate Bill 11‑03, 34–1). Senate Bill 10‑62, governing leases on state lands and requiring county notice, local ordinance compliance and public disclosure for commercial uses of endowment lands, passed 23–12. Several bills were referred to committees for printing or further amendment.

Voices from the floor Senator Harris, speaking on codifying trapping education, said the bill would “codify what needs to be taught in hunter and trapping education and consolidate it into one section.” Senator Nichols, on cursive, argued that “even in today’s digital age, cursive remains an essential skill.” Senator Blaylock described the assisted‑living bill as updating and streamlining regulation so providers can “operate more efficiently.” On livestock depredation, Senator Burton Shaw said of predator behavior: “The wolves run them to death.”

Next steps Most bills that passed the Senate will be transmitted to the Idaho House of Representatives. Several bills were held for one legislative day or referred to specific committees for amendment or printing, as noted on the Senate floor.

Ending note The session continued its multi‑day schedule; senators recessed and set the next convening time. The measures that passed now move to the House for further action, while referred bills will return to committees for additional work.