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Trustee gives state legislative roundup: bills on special education funding, tax conformity, AI and public comment

Blaine County School District Board of Trustees · February 11, 2026

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Summary

Trustee Romero reported on bills at the Idaho Legislature affecting schools: an attempt to repeal the Blaine Amendment died; a memorial urging full IDEA funding advanced; HB559 (tax conformity) passed and may increase state budget deficits; bills on epinephrine delivery, bullying reporting, generative AI in K–12 and virtual public comment are in committee or moving through both chambers.

Trustee Romero, serving as the district’s legislative representative, briefed the board on several bills and budget actions at the Idaho Legislature that could affect local schools.

Key items included: - House Joint Resolution 7, an effort to repeal the Blaine Amendment (which limits use of state funds for religious schools), was reported as having died on the House floor. - Joint House Memorial 11 urges Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act at the promised 40% of excess per-pupil cost; the memorial passed the House and moved to the Senate. - HB559 (tax conformity) was described as enlarging the state budget deficit; committee and floor movement were reported and the trustee warned such state deficits can place pressure on school budgets. - HB531 would broaden the statutory language about epinephrine 'autoinjectors' to 'delivery systems' and extend legal protections; HB515 would strengthen harassment/bullying notification, reporting and professional development requirements while removing a required state reporting step. Both bills have moved through committees and had floor activity. - SB1227 (generative AI framework in K–12) would establish statewide guidance on AI use, privacy and literacy; the bill was advancing through committee discussions and cross-chamber review. - HB537 regarding telephone and virtual public comment was discussed; trustee said if virtual public comment affects action items the board may need to hold votes until public testimony can be received.

The trustee also noted a JFAC-approved transfer from the LAUNCH program fund and cautioned that tax-code changes that increase the state deficit could create downstream pressure on public-school funding. Trustee Romero said ISBA (Idaho School Boards Association) and an ISBA-provided bill tracker were being used to monitor progress and asked trustees to reach out to legislators on items of local concern.