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Senate Education Committee votes to print school-choice measure RS 31,992
Summary
The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to print RS 31,992, a proposed expansion of school-choice funding that backers described as adding new educational savings and guardrails; members emphasized that printing the bill allows for fuller review, while some called it a voucher proposal and said they would oppose it.
The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to print RS 31,992, a request to draft and circulate a school-choice measure that proponents say would expand educational savings accounts and add accountability measures.
Senator Dave Lynn (District 33) introduced the request and framed it as an attempt to expand parental choice while adding financial and academic guardrails. Lynn told the committee the proposal would add $50 million in new funding to existing programs and would build on a $30 million Empowering Parents program for a combined total of $80 million in program authority. "If we want competition, let's level the playing field," Lynn said, urging lawmakers to view the proposal as part of a broader effort to modernize public education.
The motion before the committee was procedural: whether to print RS 31,992 so the bill text can be drafted and publicly examined. Senator Woodward moved to print the routing slip; Senator Burton Shaw seconded the motion. After brief debate the committee voted to print the request.
Some members expressed reservations during the discussion. "At this point, this looks like a voucher bill to me, and that's just a line in the sand for me, so I'll be voting no," Senator Ward Engelking said. Senator Summerer said he would vote to print so the body could define what it means for a measure to be "fair, accountable, responsible, and transparent," and to allow fuller committee consideration.
Committee members and the bill presenter emphasized that printing does not adopt policy but permits drafting and public review of details such as eligibility, accountability thresholds and spending reporting. Lynn outlined several intended features in the proposal: an accountability "threshold" for any private or religious school receiving public dollars; a $50 million hard cap on newly authorized spending; reliance on existing tracking systems; limits targeting lower‑ and middle‑income households (referenced as an adjusted gross income target around $80,000 in testimony); and proposed reductions in state‑required reporting that is not federally tied.
The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript. The motion was moved, seconded and carried; members who stated their votes in the hearing included Senator Ward Engelking (no) and Senator Summerer (yes). No final policy decisions were made; printing initiates the drafting and public review process.
The committee will consider the printed bill text in future business, where members said they expect to examine mechanics and thresholds in more detail.
