The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho establishes voluntary State Seal of Excellence in Civics for high school graduates starting July 1, 2026
Last action · March 26, 2026: Reported Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 158 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
Idaho lawmakers established a voluntary State Seal of Excellence in Civics program to recognize graduating high school students who achieve high standards in civics education and engagement, effective July 1, 2026. Participating school districts and public charter schools must track eligible students, affix the seal to diplomas, note it on transcripts, and allow qualifying students to wear red, white, and blue honor cords. Students earn the seal by maintaining a 3.25 GPA in social studies, scoring 90% or higher on the state civics assessment, completing a civics project, meeting civic participation hours or military service, and maintaining good attendance without major disciplinary infractions.
Graduating high school seniors in participating Idaho districts gain a formal diploma endorsement and transcript recognition for civic achievement, while qualifying schools achieving a 75% recipient rate receive state designation as a school of civics excellence.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Idaho high school students
Students have the opportunity to earn a diploma endorsement and transcript recognition by meeting specific civics academic, participation, and attendance requirements.
School districts and public charter schools
Participating schools must track eligible students, report annual data to the state by August 1, and administer diploma seals and honor cords.
State Department of Education
The department must provide implementation guidance, professional development, annual lists of approved programs, and publish an annual statewide summary.
Key Facts
- The Act establishes the voluntary Idaho State Seal of Excellence in Civics program to recognize high school graduates with high levels of civics proficiency and engagement.
- Participation is voluntary for school districts and public charter schools, requiring notification to the superintendent of public instruction.
- Participating schools must maintain records, identify eligible students, affix the seal to diplomas, note it on transcripts, and allow eligible students to wear red, white, and blue honor cords at graduation.
- To earn the seal, students must complete state social studies coursework with a 3.25 or higher GPA, score 90% or higher on the Idaho civics assessment, and complete a civics inquiry or research project.
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- Students must also demonstrate civic participation by completing at least three of four specified pathways, including 50 hours of community service, 15 hours of civic engagement activities, two approved civic learning programs, or civics-related work experience.
- Students enlisting in the United States armed forces prior to graduation are automatically deemed to have met the civic participation requirement.
- Students must demonstrate good attendance and incur no major disciplinary infractions as defined by local school board policy.
- The state superintendent of public instruction must design, produce, and deliver the insignia to participating schools at no cost to students.
- Schools where 75% or more of graduating seniors earn the seal will be identified by the state department of education as an Idaho school of civics excellence.
- Participating schools must report annual student award counts and aggregate participation data to the state department of education by August 1 each year.
- The act takes effect on and after July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is participation in the civics seal program mandatory for all Idaho high schools?
What score is required on the Idaho civics assessment to earn the seal?
How can students fulfill the community service requirement if they join the military?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
18 actions- Mar 26, 2026EnrolledReported Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 158 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Mar 26, 2026Delivered to Governor at 4:39 p.m. on March 25, 2026
- Mar 25, 2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
- Mar 25, 2026Signed by President; returned to House
- Mar 25, 2026Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
- Mar 24, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 12 earlier actions
- Mar 24, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Mar 23, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 33-0-2 AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, Zuiderveld NAYS – None Absent and excused – Adams, Bjerke(Bjerke) Floor Sponsor - Guthrie Title apvd - to House
- Mar 18, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Mar 17, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Mar 3, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: Education
- Mar 3, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 2, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 67-0-3 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws(Woller), Healey, Hill(Brown), Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – None Absent – Furniss, Mickelsen, Rubel Floor Sponsor - Veile Title apvd - to Senate
- Feb 27, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, March 2, 2026
- Feb 26, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Feb 25, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Feb 17, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to Education
- Feb 16, 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
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Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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