SECTARIAN APPROPRIATIONS – Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to repeal the prohibition on sectarian appropriations.
HJR 7 proposes repealing a constitutional ban (Section 5, Article IX) that currently prohibits Idaho from using public funds to support religious institutions or activities. If approved by voters, this amendment would allow the state legislature to fund religious organizations directly with taxpayer money, removing a long-standing constitutional barrier. The bill itself does not create new funding programs but eliminates the existing constitutional restriction on such appropriations. It is a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval at the next general election, having recently passed committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation.
Bill status
failed
2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Failed
Feb 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2026
Last action Feb 10, 2026
Floor votes · House Feb 10, 2026
How they voted
37–27
Failed · 1 other
Total votes 65
Feb 10, 2026
D
Democratic8
100% Nay
R
Republican57
64% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Feb 10, 2026
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (37-27-1)
house
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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