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Committee prints Bible-reading bill that would allow classroom Bible readings without comment
Summary
The committee voted to introduce RS 31972C1, a measure to authorize sequential Bible readings in public school classrooms without instruction or comment and to permit injunctive relief as the enforcement mechanism; testimony cited U.S. Supreme Court history and recent jurisprudence.
Representative Jordan Redmond introduced RS 31972C1, titled the Bible Reading Act, saying the bill would "create a statewide policy to read sequential passages from the Bible in their classroom without instruction or comment." Redmond said the bill includes conscience protections and an enforcement mechanism limited to injunctive relief.
Blaine Kinzotti, identified as president of the Idaho Family Policy Center and invited by the sponsor, told the committee the proposal draws on a long history of Bible reading in Idaho schools and the 1925 state statute that previously required teachers to read the Bible without comment. "In 1925, the state legislature exercised its constitutional prerogative by passing House Bill 69 requiring the Bible to be read by teachers without instruction or comment at the opening of each school day," Kinzotti said.
Kinzotti cited U.S. Supreme Court decisions and recent changes in establishment-clause jurisprudence, noting the 1963 case Abington v. Schempp and saying the Court's 2022 decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton replaced the Lemon test with a history-and-tradition analysis. He argued the bill would satisfy the history-and-tradition test, but committee members raised constitutional concerns during discussion.
Committee members asked whether the attorney general had been consulted about constitutionality; staff said the Attorney General's Office was not issuing public opinions at the time. Representative Nelson opposed advancing the bill on principle, saying the country was founded to avoid state-mandated religion. Several other members expressed reservations but supported printing the RS to allow public input. Representative Hawkins moved to introduce RS 31972C1; the motion carried by voice vote and the RS was printed for further consideration.
