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Senate Education Committee holds Senate Bill 1068 pending related virtual‑learning legislation
Summary
The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to hold Senate Bill 1068 in the chairman’s drawer at the call of the chair after committee members said other pending legislation addressing statewide virtual learning may affect the bill. Parents who represent Idaho Home Learning Academy testified in support of the program.
The Senate Education Committee voted to hold Senate Bill 1068 in the chairman’s drawer until the call of the chair after members said related legislation affecting statewide virtual learning is pending.
Committee Chair (Senate Education Committee) opened discussion on the bill and asked for a silent roll before considering the item. Janet Cox, who identified herself as representing parents with Idaho Home Learning Academy, attended the hearing to answer questions and to represent families who use the program.
The chair told the committee that other bills addressing statewide virtual learning are expected to come before the committee and that staff and stakeholders will be notified so they may participate in further discussions. “We have been, I think, as a committee struggling with how to do this because we recognize the value that you provide to many of our parents and students in Idaho,” the chair said, noting the committee wants to align consideration of SB 1068 with broader legislative work on virtual learning.
Several senators asked whether holding the bill would jeopardize the program. Senator Zito asked, “So if we don’t pass this, is this program going to be okay?” The chair replied that it was his intention to ensure the program can continue to serve students who need that setting and that he is committed to keeping the service available.
Senator Wardingle King raised funding mechanics, noting the bill’s language could complicate how state dollars follow students, because Idaho distributes funds based on average daily attendance. “This would say they didn’t have to attend. So it was going to be, I think, problematic in funding this particular bill,” he said, and added that he expects other legislation to address that problem.
After brief discussion, a motion to hold SB 1068 in the chairman’s drawer until the call of the chair was moved and seconded. There was no recorded roll-call vote; the chair called for the ayes and declared the motion carried. The chair asked Janet Cox to leave contact information so committee staff could follow up.
The committee did not take any further action on SB 1068 at this meeting; members said they intend to revisit the bill once related virtual‑learning legislation is introduced or available for joint consideration.
