Bill Analyses and Ratings

Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 352 expands parental rights in Idaho’s public education system by amending Section 33-6001 of the Idaho Code. The bill requires school districts and charter schools to develop policies that promote parental involvement in key areas such as homework, attendance, behavior, and curriculum review. It mandates reasonable academic accommodations for students upon parental request and allows parents to opt their children out of instructional materials or activities that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs.

The bill requires school personnel to notify parents of changes in a child’s physical, mental, or emotional health and prohibits staff from encouraging students to withhold personal information from their parents unless directed by a court. It also prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in K–12 classrooms unless deemed age-appropriate. Additional provisions include a requirement for parental consent before administering non-curricular surveys or wellness screenings, guaranteed classroom observation rights (within reason), and a formal complaint process with a private cause of action for enforcement. The bill includes an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

House Bill 352 strongly reinforces the Idaho Republican Party’s core principles by affirming that parents are the primary decision-makers in their children’s upbringing and education. It strengthens transparency, limits ideological intrusion in public classrooms, and protects family autonomy from government overreach. By codifying enforceable rights and rejecting secrecy in education policy, this legislation upholds values of limited government, traditional morality, and parental authority. For these reasons, H0352 is appropriately rated at +1.