The Idaho Legislature 2021 session is closing in on being one of the longest assembled legislative sessions in the state’s history. Several large topics remain unresolved as the Legislature continues to vote on controversial bills.
Social justice indoctrination and critical race theory have been heavily debated this session. The bill to cut higher education budgets in Idaho four-year universities, H387, passed through the House. It passed 49-20 and will head to the Senate next. Representatives said there is not enough proof to eliminate the “social justice programming,” at Idaho’s universities. Another topic in education, critical race theory, bans teaching of the subject in all public schools. District 5 Sen. David Nelson, a Democrat from Moscow, voted against the ban on teaching critical race theory in public schools. Nelson said the ban is not a good thing and puts significant restrictions on teaching.
The longest legislative session in history was in 2003 at 118 days. The Idaho legislature continues to get closer to the record as it spends its 115 days in assembly Wednesday.
Sierra Pesnell can be reached at [email protected].