Elaine Price

Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur d’Alene, in House State Affairs on Thursday introduced legislation that would remove a section from the Idaho Constitution that’s known as the Blaine Amendment, which says in part that public funds may not go to, “any church or sectarian or religious society, or for any sectarian or religious purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church, sectarian or religious denomination whatsoever.”

Idaho legislature has recently proposed a senate bill that would prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts (DEI) in higher education if passed. The bill was first presented in December 2023, intending to move forward in 2024.

This bill, Senate Bill No. 1357, advances the idea of the Higher Education Fairness Act, as an amendment to Idaho’s education statute, Title 33. This act would prohibit diversity training and political loyalty tests to stop the influence of such things on hiring or employment practices within higher education. The passing of this bill would impact the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, and Boise State University, as well as community colleges and public career technical schools.

Pornography websites would need to verify a user’s age or face potentially costly lawsuits under a bill passed by Idaho House lawmakers Wednesday.

Supporters of the bill, like Rep. Elaine Price (R-Coeur d’Alene), said kids have more access to pornography than ever before with the availability of smartphones and computers.

“This bill’s statement of purpose says it all,” said Price. “Our children are being afflicted with this destructive pornography epidemic.”