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IdahoS 12852026 regular legislative sessionSenate

OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING – Amends and adds to existing law to provide for equivalency between high school graduation and graduation from a nonpublic school for licensing requirements.

Sponsored By: COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Signed by Governor

OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Home-school diplomas open more licensing paths

Beginning July 1, 2026, the general licensing rule accepts home-school diplomas for applicants age 21 or older. These diplomas count like accredited high school graduation, a high school diploma, or a GED. Separate rules accept Idaho home-school graduation for real estate salesperson and broker licenses, whose minimum age is 18. Water and wastewater operator licenses also accept Idaho home-school graduation; applicants must be lawful U.S. residents. These changes do not waive required training, experience, exams, background checks, fees, or real estate insurance.

Home-school graduates gain care licensing options

Idaho home-school graduation records meet the high school education requirement for mortician and resident trainee licenses. Resident trainees must be at least 18 and Idaho residents. Residential care facility administrator applicants using this credential must be at least 21 and complete 800 supervised on-site hours. They must also finish board-approved courses or a program of study; degree-based routes remain available. Hearing aid dealer and fitter applicants can also use Idaho home-school graduation, while still meeting other qualifications and passing a board-approved exam.

More career credentials accept home-school graduation

Idaho home-school graduation meets high school education rules for sign language interpreters, video remote interpreting providers, and shorthand reporters. It also qualifies for massage therapist licenses, sleep-testing permits, and driving instructor licenses. Massage applicants still need to be at least 18, complete 500 supervised classroom hours, and pass a nationally recognized exam. Driving instructors still need to be at least 21 and complete an approved apprenticeship with 30 classroom and 50 behind-the-wheel hours, unless waived for equivalent out-of-state instructors. Each credential keeps its separate training, testing, and screening requirements.

Cosmetology rules recognize home-school students

Students attending an Idaho home high school count as high school students under barbering and cosmetology rules. This change recognizes their student status. It does not itself grant a license or payment.

Podiatry school standards accept home-school graduates

Idaho's podiatry board recognizes Idaho home-school graduation in its standards for approving reputable podiatry schools. Schools can use that credential to satisfy the high school entry requirement. They must still require two full years of general college study and four full years of podiatry study, or equivalents. This changes school approval standards, not automatic admission or licensing.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Jordan Redman

    Republican • House

  • Ben Toews

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 98 • No: 3

House vote • 3/23/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 67 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 31 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor on 03/26/26 Session Law Chapter 135 Effective: 03/26/26

    3/26/2026

  2. Reported delivered to Governor at 4:33 p.m. on 03/25/26

    3/26/2026

  3. Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor

    3/25/2026

  4. Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate

    3/25/2026House

  5. Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker

    3/24/2026Senate

  6. Returned From House Passed; referred to enrolling

    3/24/2026Senate

  7. Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 67-2-1

    3/23/2026House

  8. Read second time; Filed for Third Reading

    3/20/2026House

  9. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading

    3/19/2026House

  10. Read First Time, Referred to Business

    3/9/2026House

  11. Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading

    3/9/2026House

  12. Read third time in full as amended – PASSED - 31-1-3

    3/6/2026Senate

  13. Read second time as amended, filed for Third reading

    2/27/2026Senate

  14. Read first time as amended, filed for Second Reading

    2/26/2026Senate

  15. Reported engrossed, filed for first reading, as amended

    2/26/2026Senate

  16. Amendments reported printed

    2/26/2026Senate

  17. Amendments ordered printed; referred for engrossment

    2/25/2026Senate

  18. Reported out without recommendation, as amended

    2/25/2026Senate

  19. Placed in the Committee of the Whole

    2/25/2026Senate

  20. Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment

    2/20/2026Senate

  21. Reported Printed; referred to Commerce & Human Resources

    2/16/2026Senate

  22. Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing

    2/13/2026Senate

Bill Text

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