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Committee advances resolution to declare English the official language of Idaho
Summary
House Joint Resolution 6, proposed to add English as the official language in the Idaho Constitution, was sent to the House floor with a “do pass” recommendation after sponsor Rep. Dale Hawkins said the change would align state practice with recent federal action and existing state statute.
A committee voted to send House Joint Resolution 6 to the House floor with a “do pass” recommendation after sponsor Rep. Dale Hawkins said the amendment would designate English as the official language of Idaho and require its use in public proceedings, documents and instruction where not preempted by federal law.
"This proposed amendment in legislation would add to section 10 of the Idaho constitution designating English as the official language of the state," Hawkins said, telling the committee the measure would mandate use of English in public acts except where federal law requires otherwise. He said a similar requirement exists in state statute and that the proposed constitutional amendment would bring Idaho into alignment with recent federal action.
There was no public testimony for the resolution at the committee meeting. A motion to send the resolution to the floor with a due-pass recommendation passed; two members asked to be recorded as voting no.
If advanced and approved by the Legislature and voters as required for a constitutional amendment, the resolution would enshrine the English-language provision in the state constitution; the transcript did not specify a timetable beyond the committee action.
