At a meeting of the House Education Committee, members voted to introduce RS31867, a request statute aimed at making the American flag and the Idaho state flag the primary flags allowed inside public classrooms.

Representative Ted Hill, who presented the request statute, said the intent is “to assure that the American flag and the Idaho state flag are the primary flags allowed within the public classroom.” He described other flags as representing “any other political, ideological or religious entity or distraction, fracture or unity.”

Hill also framed the measure in civic terms, saying: “I'd like to note every day that we stand in front and we go in the House, we all come to attention, we put our hands on our heart and we all pledge allegiance. That's an immense powerful ritual that we do to show our commitment to the Republic and the unity we have.”

Representative Hart moved to introduce RS31867. The committee chair called for the question; members responded “Aye,” and the motion carried. No roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript.

During the meeting the committee also welcomed Jeff Carlson, who said he was filling in for Representative Mathias this week and offered brief personal remarks. The committee approved the minutes from Jan. 13, 2025 before taking up the RS.

With the introduction approved, the committee adjourned. The transcript does not record further committee action on the request statute or any committee referral or scheduling for additional hearings.