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S 1336 Idaho Senate · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

EDUCATION – Amends and adds to existing law to revise and establish provisions regarding civics education.

Idaho's S 1336 requires all public high school students to demonstrate core virtues (like patriotism and justice) and master key principles of American self-government, including natural rights, the rule of law, and the separation of powers, before graduation. It mandates two credits each in American history and government for grades 9-12, with a full-year Western civilization course required for 8th graders by 2030. The bill specifies curricula must cover foundational documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution), the American founding era, and the influence of Western traditions, while including instruction on how totalitarian ideologies like communism conflict with U.S. principles. These changes directly affect Idaho public school students and educators developing course materials. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
Issues: ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific civics/history curriculum requirements for graduation, strengthening educational standards in American government and history per bill's core provisions.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 24, 2026 Signed Apr 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text → Engrossment 1 · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to modernize its language and expand the specific historical documents students must study. The changes replace generic terms like 'rulers' with 'leaders' and update the description of government principles to emphasize 'ordered liberty.' Most significantly, the list of required historical documents was expanded to include foundational texts on religious freedom, abolition of slavery, and democracy, while removing older documents like the Mayflower Compact and the Northwest Ordinance.
REQUIREMENT

Updated the description of required civic virtues to include 'ordered liberty' and changed the reference to obtaining 'rulers' to obtaining 'leaders'.

Replaced the requirement to study the Northwest Ordinance with the Rhode Island 1784 act for the abolition of slavery and the Virginia statute for religious freedom.

Added new required documents including Patrick Henry's 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!', Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense', George Washington's letter to the Hebrew congregation, Alexis de Tocqueville's 'Democracy in America', and the Lincoln-Douglass debates.

Removed the requirement to study the Mayflower Compact, the Massachusetts Body of Liberties, and the Northwest Ordinance.

Removed the mandate for 8th graders to take a full-year Western civilization course by the 2030-2031 school year, leaving only the requirement for 9th-12th graders to complete specific history and government credits.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2026 · House Apr 2, 2026

How they voted

29–6
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 36
Apr 1, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican30
29 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
upper
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rules Suspended: Ayes 58 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 12, read in full as required – PASSED - 54-12-4AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon(Cannon), Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill(Hill), Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Sc
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full as amended – PASSED - 28-6-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Rabe, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, WintrowAbsent and excused – ForemanFloor Sponsor - AnthonTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Introduced
Amendments reported printed
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Committee
Amendments ordered printed; referred for engrossment
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out without recommendation, as amended
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Placed in the Committee of the Whole
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed; referred to Education
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.