Contact us: idahoreports@idahoptv.org

On Friday morning, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted on an additional 1 percent budget rescission for the current fiscal year, and additional 2 percent cuts moving forward in fiscal year 2027. Those proposals must still pass both the House and Senate floors and get the governor's signature before it goes into effect. We'll continue to follow this story and will have much more on next week's Idaho Reports.

Budget uncertainty is driving just about every conversation this year – on tax policy, on education, and definitely on health care. This week, producer Logan Finney explores why tax conformity, often a formality in Idaho, has become a real debate this legislative session. Then, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News talks about looming budget cuts and how they might affect public schools, higher education, and just about everything. 

On Thursday, the Idaho Supreme Court denied a request to stop the new Parental Choice Tax Credit program taking effect. The plaintiffs in the case had argued the program violates the Idaho Constitution's mandate to establish and maintain free and uniform public schools. The court rejected that argument, saying the constitution “does not impose a limitation on the legislature’s authority to do more than what the provision minimally requires” when it comes to funding public education. We have more with Kevin Richert in the show.

The Trump administration’s ramped-up immigration enforcement nationwide continues to impact Idahoans and public policy discussions. Gov. Brad Little rescinded his re-appointment of Canyon County resident Estella Zamora to the Idaho Human Rights Commission after online comments and discussion pointed out recent anti-ICE posts on her social media. A group of conservative Republican lawmakers aligned with the Idaho Freedom Caucus unveiled plans to introduce several immigration enforcement bills.

Multiple Idaho tribes have encouraged their members to carry their tribal identification cards in case they get stopped by ICE agents, with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe telling members they should report the encounter to the Fort Hall Police Department’s non-emergency line, and the Nez Perce Tribe reminding its members that ICE does not have automatic authority to enter private homes or tribal facilities without legal authorization.

Educated Estimates | February 6, 2026

• SCHOOL CHOICE: The Idaho Supreme Court upheld the state’s private education tax credit Thursday. The five-member court unanimously agreed that challengers failed to show the Parental Choice Tax Credit violates the state constitution’s mandate that the Legislature fund public schools. [🔗 Idaho Education News]

• TOWN HALL: More than 500 people attended a Democratic town hall Wednesday at the capitol. There was about four hours of emotional testimony from families, patients, and advocates who pleaded to preserve Medicaid services vital to their loved ones and other special needs people. [🔗 Boise State Public Radio]

• PUBLIC RECORDS: A bill authored by the Idaho Press Club would provide people who are entirely or partially denied access to public records under the Idaho Public Records Act with a new way to settle disputes. A process in the courts for filing a complaint would allow both the requester and the agency to submit affidavits for a magistrate judge to review, similar to small claims court. [🔗 BoiseDev]

• LOCAL CONTROL: Idaho is one step closer to prohibiting its cities and counties from passing anti-discrimination ordinances. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by Gov. Brad Little, the measure would invalidate such local ordinances in Idaho’s largest county, as well as at least 12 cities that prohibit discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. [🔗 Boise State Public Radio]

• COSMETOLOGY: A bill to reduce the hours required for a cosmetology license is effectively dead in its current form, but the collaboration that followed could produce new legislation that lawmakers and industry professionals can support. [🔗 KTVB]

• SHORT-TERM RENTALS: Two different groups of legislators introduced bills further tightening the state code on what rules local governments can impose on short-term rentals, like Airbnbs or VRBOs. The current law allows local governments to regulate short-term rentals only to address health and safety issues. [🔗 BoiseDev]

• RAW MILK: Central District Health is investigating nine cases of illness related to unpasteurized milk, all likely stemming from a Caldwell dairy. Two children are hospitalized with confirmed cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare complication of E. coli that can result in kidney failure. [🔗 The Idaho Press]

• CAMPAIGN SEASON: After a career spent serving in Idaho’s courthouses, including as justice for the Idaho Supreme Court, John Stegner is now seeking a spot on the ballot as an independent candidate for Idaho governor. [🔗 Lewiston Tribune]

• ITD BUILDING: The Idaho Transportation Department’s return to its former Boise headquarters is still far from complete, the agency’s director told lawmakers. Officials will execute a contract for the removal of hazardous materials and then look at design and renovations for the vacant building. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• JUST FOR FUN: The usually dead Boise Factory Outlets saw a bustle of activity as dozens of firefighters geared up for a special training. Serving as one last hurrah for the empty shopping center, the Boise Fire Department was given the opportunity to utilize the storefronts for practice burns. The mall is officially slated for demolition, marking an end to its decades-long history. [🔗 The Idaho Press]

Your support for public media means more now than ever. The generous support of our viewers like you makes it possible for Idaho Public Television to tell Idaho’s stories.

Idaho Reports on Idaho Public Television is made possible through the generous support of the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, the Friends of Idaho Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.