Idaho committee advances bill limiting political and ideological flags in classrooms

BOISE, Jan. 23, 2025 — The House Committee on Education on Thursday introduced RS 31963, a bill from Representative Ted Hill that would restrict display of political, ideological and religious flags inside public school classrooms while preserving the American flag and state flags.

Representative Ted Hill (R., Dist. 14) told the committee the revised draft narrows a prior measure and “closes the gap” by clarifying language in a new line 23 that limits which nation and state flags may be displayed. Hill said the American flag would remain primary and that “all other political, ideological and religious flags will not be allowed.”

The bill would allow state flags and other specified exceptions; it also calls out that flags from nations with which the United States is in open hostilities would not be permitted in classrooms. Hill said the measure contains no criminal or civil penalties and would depend on local school boards to implement and enforce: “There’s only a ‘shall’ in this bill. There’s no repercussions,” he said.

Members pressed for clarity about how “conflict” or “hostilities” would be determined. Representative Garner asked whether “conflict” would mean a formal declaration of war, and Representative Hill replied that he meant “hostilities,” giving examples such as the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Representative Church raised classroom-instruction concerns, citing Advanced Placement comparative government classes where students study flags such as Mexico’s or the European Union’s and asked whether those flags would be allowed when used for instruction. Hill said instructional displays would generally be allowed unless the United States was in open hostilities with the nation in question.

Representative Mundyff moved to introduce RS 31963 and place it on the second‑reading calendar. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; no numerical tally was recorded in the hearing record.

Why it matters: The bill shifts responsibility for day‑to‑day enforcement to local school boards and could affect how teachers present comparative government and world‑region instruction materials in classrooms. Committee members requested clearer definitions of “conflict” and who would make that determination ahead of a bill hearing.

Votes at a glance: Motion to introduce RS 31963 — Mover: Representative Mundyff. Outcome: introduced and recommended to second reading calendar by voice vote (tally not specified).