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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho establishes student discipline process and reporting requirements for inappropriate online behavior
Last action · March 30, 2026: Reported Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 174 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
Idaho enacts a law requiring school districts and public charter schools to investigate and impose disciplinary measures on students who engage in inappropriate online behavior toward school employees, students, parents, or volunteers, taking effect July 1, 2026.
School districts and public charter boards must formally investigate online harassment reports against school staff, students, or volunteers and hold mandatory meetings with parents to determine disciplinary penalties ranging from warnings to expulsion.
- House Bill 785 was introduced during the Second Regular Session of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature by the House Education Committee. context
- The bill was enacted into law as Chapter 174, taking effect on July 1, 2026. 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.
public school employees
Employees can report inappropriate online behavior by students and have their cases investigated by school boards for disciplinary action.
students
Students are subject to school board investigations and disciplinary measures including suspension or expulsion for online misconduct directed at staff, parents, volunteers, or other students.
parents or legal guardians
Parents must be notified of online behavior reports and are required to attend meetings with the school board if misconduct is verified.
Key Facts
- Students engaging in inappropriate online behavior toward school employees, other students, parents, or volunteers must be reported to the school district board of trustees or public charter school governing board.
- Inappropriate online behavior includes internet, mobile electronic device, or social media communications that harass, threaten, bully, contain obscene or discriminatory content, or harm reputation, dignity, or safety, regardless of whether it occurs during school hours or off property.
- The school board or its designee must investigate the veracity of the claims, notify parents or legal guardians, and notify law enforcement if appropriate.
- If online misconduct is verified, the student and their parents or legal guardians must meet with the school board to discuss disciplinary measures.
Show all 7 facts
- Proportional disciplinary measures available to the board include warnings or reprimands, required participation in an online behavior awareness program, temporary suspension, or expulsion.
- Affected employees or other persons retain the right to pursue any other available legal remedies.
- The act takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as inappropriate online behavior under this law?
What disciplinary actions can a school board take against a student?
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
17 actions- Mar 30, 2026EnrolledReported Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 174 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Mar 26, 2026Delivered to Governor at 12:58 p.m. on March 26, 2026
- Mar 26, 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 25, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 11 earlier actions
- Mar 24, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Mar 24, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 32-1-2 AYES – Adams, Anthon, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, 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 – Foreman Absent and excused – Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke) Floor Sponsor - Toews Title apvd - to House
- Mar 19, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Mar 18, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Mar 10, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: Education
- Mar 10, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 9, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 65-0-5 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson(Larsen), Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Haws, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mathias, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – None Absent – Green, Hawkins, Healey, Manwaring, McCann Floor Sponsor - Redman Title apvd - to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Mar 5, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Feb 27, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to Education
- Feb 26, 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.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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