Committee advances resolution to add English as Idaho’s official language

BOISE — The Idaho House State Affairs Committee voted to send House Joint Resolution 6 to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation. The resolution would propose a constitutional amendment designating English as the state’s official language for public proceedings, public documents and public instruction except where federal law requires otherwise.

Representative Dale Hawkins, sponsor of HJR 6, told the committee the change would align Idaho with a recent federal executive action and said existing state statute has not been consistently followed. “Executive order affects the federal government, does not trickle down into the states,” Hawkins said. He described the proposal as a way to “secure the American culture in Idaho” by putting the requirement into the state constitution.

There was no public testimony on the resolution. Representative Crane moved to send HJR 6 to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation; the motion carried. The transcript records Representatives Shuba and Keeley as voting no. No additional debate or amendments were recorded in the hearing transcript.

If approved by the Legislature and voters (as required for a constitutional amendment), the resolution would add language to Section 10 of the Idaho Constitution, according to Hawkins’ remarks.