Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1070 creates a new Section 33-4806 in Idaho Code to establish a statewide parent technology awareness program aimed at educating parents and guardians of K–12 students about online threats and safety. The State Department of Education is tasked with either developing or contracting the creation of this online program, which will be made available to both public and private schools.

The program must address topics such as the risks associated with internet-capable devices, online threats including cyberbullying and predators, how children engage in risky online behavior, and best practices for protecting children on the internet and social media. School districts and charter schools must provide access to the program free of charge and distribute information to parents at the beginning of each school year. Parents will be asked to sign an acknowledgment form confirming they received this information. The bill includes an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

S1070 earns a positive rating for strongly aligning with the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s emphasis on parental rights and responsibility in the upbringing and education of children. It equips parents—not government bureaucrats—with tools to protect their children in a dangerous and increasingly digital world. The program is voluntary, imposes no behavioral mandates, and supports family autonomy by offering information and guidance rather than regulation. It also places no new taxes or enforcement burdens on schools or families. Because it advances parental empowerment without expanding government control, S1070 receives a positive rating.