In this tight budget season, Gov. Brad Little has worked to shield K-12 public schools from cuts and holdbacks, but higher education has had no such luck. With increasing enrollment systemwide and an open president seat at Boise State University, Idaho’s higher education institutions have a lot on their plate. Logan Finney sat down with Idaho State Board of Education Executive Director Jennifer White to discuss the budget picture and other higher education topics up for discussion this session.

• Idaho may adopt nearly all the tax deductions in the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” under a bill introduced Friday. Lawmakers estimate it will cost the state $155 million each year the deductions are in effect. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• The Idaho Supreme Court heard a challenge Friday to the Parental Choice Tax Credit. Some justices appeared skeptical that the Idaho Constitution prohibits the state from funding private education. [🔗 Idaho Education News]

• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited Idaho on Thursday to encourage the legislature to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment resolution. [🔗 KBOI]

• Members of the House and Senate health and welfare committees have a lot on their plates this session as they’re being tasked with finding $22 million in cuts to help balance Idaho’s budget. [🔗 Boise State Public Radio News]

• On Thursday, state leaders and pest experts discussed how to keep "Eagle rats" from spreading. Norway and roof rats are now popping up elsewhere in the Treasure Valley and could quickly become a statewide issue. [🔗 KIVI]

• Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s office told state government agencies to work with the governor’s office before responding to questions from state lawmakers and journalists. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• Former state representative and historian Linden Bateman of Idaho Falls passed away Thursday at 85 years old. Bateman’s career in the Legislature spanned nearly two decades across two different eras, serving from 1977 to 1986 and then returning again to the capitol from 2010 to 2016. [🔗 KIFI]

• The State Board of Education says Idaho’s four-year schools have done a good job of carrying out a sweeping 2025 law banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and a legislative audit generally bears that out. But the audit, released earlier this month, also points out glitches and gray areas seven months after the law went into effect. [🔗 Idaho Education News]

•  Of all the crazy things that pass through security checkpoints at airports across the country each year, the Boise Airport saw the Transportation Security Administration's "most unusual" item of 2025: a replica pipe bomb. [🔗 KIVI]