All Roll Calls
Yes: 81 • No: 21
IdahoH 02402025 regular legislative sessionHouse
EDUCATION – Adds to existing law to establish provisions for the protection of certain speech on college campuses.
Sponsored By: EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
EDUCATION
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Students can sue over speech violations
Beginning July 1, 2025, students and student groups can sue Idaho public colleges and employees acting in their official roles. Claims must involve rights under this law and follow the Idaho Tort Claims Act’s rules and limits. If a court finds a violation, it may order the violation stopped and award compensatory damages up to $25,000. It may also award nominal damages, reasonable court costs, and attorney’s fees. Lawsuits must be filed within one year after the claim arises; each day a violation continues starts a new claim.
Clearer campus rules and harassment protections
Beginning July 1, 2025, Idaho public colleges must maintain policies against student-on-student harassment. Harassment means unwelcome expression that is severe, pervasive, and offensive both to the student and by an objective standard. It must effectively deny equal access to educational opportunities or benefits. Colleges must explain speech laws, policies, and expectations in handbooks, websites, and orientation. By December 1, 2025, they must post implementation reports and send them to the Governor and Legislative Services Office. Reports must be updated when policies change. Within 30 days after a claim is filed, colleges must send the State Board of Education the complaint and policy amendments. The board must report non-privileged information annually by January 14; legally protected student and employee records remain exempt.
Stronger speech protections for Idaho students
Beginning July 1, 2025, Idaho public colleges, universities, and community colleges must protect noncommercial speech covered by constitutional rights. They cannot confine outdoor speech to designated “free speech zones.” Outdoor rules must be narrow, serve a significant school interest, treat topics and viewpoints equally, and leave ample alternatives. Rules must allow students to gather and share literature spontaneously without limiting protected student speech elsewhere on campus. Colleges cannot charge students or groups security fees based on their speech, guests’ speech, or expected reactions to guests. Neutral fees remain allowed; the law does not protect commercial speech, unprotected expression, harassment, or substantial disruption of others’ reserved activities.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Kevin Cook
Republican • Senate
Barbara Ehardt
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/19/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 26 • No: 6
House vote • 3/4/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 55 • No: 15
Actions Timeline
Reported Signed by Governor on March 28, 2025 Session Law Chapter 194 Effective: 07/01/2025
3/31/2025Delivered to Governor at 12:03 p.m. on March 24, 2025
3/24/2025Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
3/24/2025SenateSigned by President; returned to House
3/21/2025SenateReceived from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
3/21/2025SenateReported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
3/20/2025HouseReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
3/20/2025HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 26-6-3
3/19/2025SenateRead second time; filed for Third Reading
3/18/2025SenateReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
3/17/2025SenateIntroduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
3/5/2025SenateReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
3/5/2025SenateRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 55-15-0
3/4/2025HouseRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
3/3/2025HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
2/28/2025HouseReported Printed and Referred to Education
2/17/2025HouseIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
2/14/2025House
Bill Text
Bill Text
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