06-05-2025
Idaho's children deserve better from our Legislature
The Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise shines in the sunlight on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)
The 2025 Idaho legislative session may be over, but its impact on our children will last far longer — and not for the better.
As the session dragged past its intended adjournment, one thing became painfully clear: Idaho's children were not a priority. Legislators found time to debate flags and push culture war bills into classrooms, but when it came to supporting our youngest citizens — those who will one day inherit this state — they failed.
School buildings continue to crumble, special education remains underfunded, and child care providers are forced to operate under weaker safety standards due to legislative rollbacks. Meanwhile, children from undocumented families were denied food assistance, school lunches, and even health care through Medicaid — all because of their parents' immigration status. These policies don't just hurt children — they compromise the future of Idaho.
Instead of focusing on real issues, our lawmakers catered to special interests and pushed another round of income tax cuts — our fifth in four years. It's true that everyone likes tax cuts. But we must ask: at what cost?
Since 2022, these income tax cuts have drained nearly $1.9 billion from Idaho's budget, with another $948 million lost annually moving forward. That's $2.8 billion in permanent revenue gone by the end of 2025—funds that could have been invested in updating schools, expanding health care, and keeping property taxes in check. This year alone, the Legislature cut $87 million from public education, let a $205 working families tax credit expire, and slashed $15 million from affordable housing while passing yet another tax cut that disproportionately benefits the wealthiest Idahoans.
The numbers don't lie: Idaho's wealthiest 1% received an average tax break of over $15,000. The average Idaho family? Just $337. And now, with the expiration of the Child Tax Credit, most families will actually see a tax increase.
This is not responsible governance, it's a reckless redistribution of resources upward, leaving working families to bear the burden.
At Idaho Children Are Primary, we believe lawmakers should be judged on a simple question: Is this good for kids? That's why we publish our Kids Matter Index (KMI), a non-partisan scorecard tracking legislators' votes on bills affecting children — from school funding and day care licensing to Medicaid and public assistance.
This year's results are sobering. Only 25% of legislators scored 80% or higher — a strong pro-child record. That's down from 30% last year and 40% the year before. Meanwhile, 65% of lawmakers scored below 69%. The trend is unmistakable: Idaho's Legislature is prioritizing children less and less each year.
And those who did stand up for children? Many were punished at the ballot box. In the 2024 primaries, several legislators with strong KMI scores were replaced by candidates backed by out-of-state money and extreme ideologies.
This should alarm every Idahoan. Our children's futures are being shaped not just by what laws pass—but by who we elect to make those laws.
So what can we do?
First, hold your legislators accountable. Ask them how they voted. Ask why. If their priorities don't align with your values, let them know — and vote accordingly. You can find your legislator at the Idaho State Legislature's 'Who's My Legislator?' tool.
Second, engage with your community. Talk to neighbors, attend town halls, and show up to school board meetings. Real change starts locally.
Third, pay close attention to the 2026 May primary election. That's when many key decisions are made — often by just a few hundred votes. Use tools like the Kids Matter Index to learn how your lawmakers vote, not just what they say.
Idaho's constitution is clear: 'All political power is inherent in the people.' If our representatives won't prioritize kids, it's time we elect ones who will.
Idaho's children deserve better. Our families deserve better. And Idaho's future depends on the choices we make today. Let's ensure our lawmakers choose our children — by choosing our lawmakers wisely.
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