House Education Committee advances bill allowing lifetime teaching certificates after 25 years

The House Committee on Education on March 6, 2025 voted to send Senate Bill 1092 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. Senator Lori Denhartaug, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the measure "would allow a teacher or administrator to apply for a lifetime certificate after 25 years of experience in either, or combination thereof in either the classroom or being an administrator."

The bill would exempt eligible certificated educators from the routine five-year renewal and associated continuing education requirement at the state level but would allow for revocation if an educator "engage[s] in any professional misconduct that would warrant the revocation," Denhartaug said. The engrossed bill includes language expanding eligibility to administrators as well as classroom teachers and refers to a State Board of Education rulemaking process to define what counts as qualifying experience.

Heather Williams, associate executive director of the Idaho Association of School Administrators, speaking also for the Idaho Rural Schools Association, testified in support. "This bill will allow us to actually do three things," Williams said, adding it would "recognize and honor those dedicated professionals that have given 25 years of their career to the lives of Idaho students," reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and provide an incentive to retain experienced educators, particularly in rural communities.

Committee members asked clarifying questions during the hearing. Representative Harris moved the committee recommendation and said he supported the bill as a deregulatory measure, while noting he would prefer a shorter threshold. Representative Clow asked whether out-of-state experience counts; Denhartaug pointed to the engrossed bill language that refers to experience in an "Idaho school district, public charter, or equivalent in another jurisdiction," and said the State Board of Education could further clarify through rulemaking. Representative Marmon asked whether lifetime certification would exempt holders from required training imposed by statute; Denhartaug replied it would not.

The bill was discussed in public testimony and committee discussion before Representative Harris moved to send Senate Bill 1092 as amended to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee carried the motion by voice vote with no roll call.

The bill as amended makes administrators as well as teachers eligible, relies on the State Board of Education to define particulars of experience in rule, and preserves existing local hiring and contract requirements — local boards retain authority over hiring and any additional professional development in contracts.