Idaho bill would let school boards discipline students for obscene or defamatory online posts about staff

Representative Jordan Redmond, R-District 3, introduced RS 32528 on March 3, 2025, a resolution that would add a definition of “inappropriate online behavior” directed at public school employees and authorize disciplinary measures, including referral to a school board, for students who post such material.

Supporters said teachers in Redmond’s district brought the idea forward after repeated incidents. "This legislation was brought to me by some of the teachers back in my district that have expressed major concerns about the increasing number of inappropriate online behaviors by students with online posts that are obscene, discriminatory and harmful to a teacher's reputation," Redmond told the committee.

The measure would allow schools to bring students before a school board for disciplinary action if they engaged in the covered online behavior, Redmond said. Representative Mathias urged the committee to consider the harms the bill seeks to address, calling the behavior "tearing people's lives apart" and comparing it to "yelling fire in a movie theater." Mathias said he supported introduction and wanted to hear from school boards and teachers at a future hearing.

Some committee members urged legal vetting before a full hearing. Representative Kyle Harris asked, "Have you talked to any lawyers or anything about this? It seems like it might be delving into some First Amendment issues on first glance." Redmond responded that he believed the bill targets obscene or defamatory posts and not ordinary expressions of dislike: "If they're posting something just saying I don't like Mrs. Smith, that's one thing. But when there's lewd or crude posts, I think that's where we can see more issues." Representative Harris asked Redmond to consult legal counsel — LSO or the attorney general’s office — and return with guidance.

Members also questioned the bill’s definitions and scope. Several lawmakers noted the draft’s definition of "persons" could include parents or other nonstudents and asked whether the measure covered student-to-student incidents or only student-to-employee conduct. Redmond and other supporters said the bill is primarily aimed at student-to-employee conduct and that he would clarify language for a full hearing.

The committee voted to introduce RS 32528 for further consideration. Representative Ehart formally moved to introduce the RS; the motion carried without a recorded roll-call vote.

What the bill would do, who it would cover, and how school boards would apply disciplinary measures remain subject to drafting changes and legal review. Committee members directed the sponsor to seek legal advice and to clarify definitions before a full committee hearing.

Requests for comment were limited to committee discussion and the sponsor’s remarks during the introduction; no formal hearing testimony by outside groups appears in the committee record for this session.