Idaho legislative panel examines college DEI programs [Video]

KEVIN RICHERTIdaho Education News

BOISE — A legislative task force took its first look Wednesday at higher ed diversity, equity and inclusion programs — resuming a discussion that is likely to spill into the 2025 session.

DEI has already been a perennial, roiling issue at the Statehouse. Colleges and universities are banned from using taxpayer dollars on DEI programs — that language has been part of the higher ed budget for two years — and a 2024 law bans written diversity statements in higher ed hiring or admissions. The eight-member task force didn’t talk about any specific bills during its 90-minute inaugural meeting.

But that could come later.

Legislative leadership has given the House-Senate group the green light to work on “potential” legislation, co-chair Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, reminded the task force Wednesday.

What legislation might look like — and what the task force might agree on — is harder to handicap.

Hardline conservatives hold a majority on the …