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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho prohibits in-person student instruction on election days starting in 2028
Last action · April 1, 2026: Reported Signed by Governor on March 31, 2026 Session Law Chapter 244 Effective: 01/01/2028
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What This Bill Does
Idaho bans in-person student instruction in public schools on election days, effective January 1, 2028, unless a joint agreement determines school buildings will not serve as polling places. School boards retain authority to hold alternative non-instructional activities that do not require students inside polling facilities.
School districts must alter their academic calendars and plan alternative or non-instructional activities for students on all statewide and local election days.
- House Bill 831 was introduced by the State Affairs Committee during the 2026 Second Regular Session of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
school districts
School districts must adjust their annual calendars to halt in-person student instruction on election days or secure joint agreements with county clerks.
students
Students will not receive in-person instruction inside school buildings used as polling places on election days unless an exemption agreement is reached.
teachers
Teachers may participate in professional development, personnel training, or in-service training on election days instead of regular in-person instruction.
Key Facts
- Prohibits in-person student instruction on dates when elections may be conducted under section 34-106, Idaho Code.
- Allows school boards of trustees to determine instruction or activities on election days as long as students are not required or encouraged to be inside polling place buildings.
- Permits in-person student instruction to continue if the county clerk and school district make a joint agreement that student-occupied buildings will not be designated as polling places.
- Defines permitted election-day activities to include professional development, personnel training, teacher in-service training, student extracurricular activities, and athletic activities.
Show all 5 facts
- Takes effect on and after January 1, 2028.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can students still have school on election days?
What activities can schools hold on election days?
When does this rule take effect?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
17 actions- Apr 1, 2026EnrolledReported Signed by Governor on March 31, 2026 Session Law Chapter 244 Effective: 01/01/2028
- Mar 30, 2026Delivered to Governor at 12:31 p.m. on March 30, 2026
- Mar 30, 2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
- Mar 30, 2026Signed by President; returned to House
- Mar 30, 2026Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
- Mar 27, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 11 earlier actions
- Mar 26, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Mar 26, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 30-4-1 AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward NAYS – Galloway, Okuniewicz, Zito, Zuiderveld Absent and excused – Semmelroth Floor Sponsor - Guthrie Title apvd - to House
- Mar 24, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Mar 23, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Mar 13, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
- Mar 13, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 12, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 54-14-2 AYES – Alfieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson(Larsen), Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Tanner(13), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Mr. Speaker NAYS – Barbieri, Beiswenger, Cayler, Crane(12), Hawkins, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Price, Rasor, Tanner(14), Thompson, Wisniewski Absent – Church, Skaug Floor Sponsor - Raybould Title apvd - to Senate
- Mar 11, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Mar 10, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 6, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
- Mar 5, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Election Day School Operational Shift
The legislation mandates a shift in how school facilities interact with elections by prohibiting student instruction inside polling buildings unless specific joint agreements are executed.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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