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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho adds sexual orientation and gender identity to protected civil rights classes
Last action · January 26, 2026: Reported Printed; referred to State AffairsSponsor: Melissa Wintrow
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What This Bill Proposed
CIVIL RIGHTS – Amends existing law to provide that freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity is a civil right.
Expands legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents, prohibiting employers, landlords, and businesses from denying services, housing, or jobs based on or .
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
individuals in Idaho
Residents gain explicit legal protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, and public services.
employers
Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees or applicants based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
real estate brokers and landlords
Housing providers are prohibited from refusing transactions or applying different terms or conditions based on an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.
Key Facts
- Establishes freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity as a civil right in Idaho.
- Amends Section 67-5901, Idaho Code, to include sexual orientation and gender identity among protected characteristics in employment, public accommodations, real property transactions, and education.
- Amends Section 67-5902, Idaho Code, to define 'gender identity' as a person's actual or perceived gender identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other characteristics without regard to sex at birth, and 'sexual orientation' as actual or perceived orientation as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or asexual.
- Amends Section 67-5909, Idaho Code, to prohibit employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and publishers from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Show all 6 facts
- Prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, educational institutions, real estate transactions, and real estate financing based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Declares an emergency, making the act effective on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new protected classes are added under Senate Bill 1228?
Which areas of public and private life are covered by these anti-discrimination provisions?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 26, 2026CommitteeReported Printed; referred to State Affairs
- Jan 23, 2026IntroducedIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR 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.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Idaho Civil Rights Act
The bill explicitly integrates sexual orientation and gender identity into foundational state anti-discrimination statutes covering employment, housing, public accommodations, and education.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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