2025 Legislative Session: Religious Freedom

Idaho lawmakers again introduced a suite of bills aimed at inserting “traditional,” Christian values and ideals into Idaho schools and healthcare. These bills reflect a broader Christian nationalist political agenda being seen across the U.S.—a trend with firm roots in conservative states like Idaho. Proponents of Christian nationalist legislation describe such laws as a necessary response to the rise of “secular and progressive” policy, law, and culture, which ultimately “threaten” society.   

We recognize Christian nationalist legislation as part of a broad scheme aimed at shoring up political power, rather than an earnest attempt to return to “traditional values.” In fact, every attempt to embed Christian ideals in Idaho law showed a blatant disregard for constitutional protections against religious coercion, the separation of church and state, and marked an extreme departure from legal and political precedent—and tradition.

Religious Freedom Scorecard

Lawmaker Scorecards

See how lawmakers voted on key religious freedom legislation.

Photo of empty chairs in the Idaho State Capitol Senate Chambers

The Legislative Scorecard is a crucial accountability tool. We encourage you to use this scorecard to give your elected officials feedback on their votes during the 2025 Legislative Session. Direct communication with your elected officials is a valuable way to encourage them to protect our constitutional rights around the issues that are most important to you.

These scorecards can also provide valuable information on legislators for when you head to the polls.

View Our Religious Freedom Scorecard

Religious Freedom Wins

Thankfully, we defeated the most egregious Christian nationalist bills introduced this legislative session. A bill that would have forced public school teachers to read the bible aloud did not pass. We also defeated a bill requiring public schools display the Ten Commandments and another that would have allowed chaplains to serve as school counselors—and without training, certification or meaningful oversight.  

Christian Nationalism in Schools and Healthcare

Unfortunately, the legislature’s seemingly relentless push to codify Christianity did gain some ground this session. Lawmakers passed a bill mandating a politically dubious “civics education” component in public schools that risks turning education into a site of political activism and robs students of their right to accurate and unbiased information.

Lawmakers also approved bills that ban “gender ideology” in sex and health education, force an anti-abortion video to be screened in K-12 education, and allow a partnership between public schools and the notorious PragerU Kids—an activist corporation known for inaccurate and revisionist educational materials. A dangerous “medical ethics” law also passed this year, which allows healthcare providers to refuse services and treatment based on religious beliefs. This concerning law threatens the health and safety of every Idahoan and will likely worsen our already dire provider shortage.

Similarly, Idaho lawmakers failed to address the dangers wrought by 2024’s medical parental consent law, leaving our teens with only conditional access to reproductive healthcare, STI testing, and even reporting sexual abuse or assault.  

Finally, Idaho legislators approved a symbolic resolution to celebrate “traditional family values.” While lacking the force of law, the bill sends a clear message that “nontraditional” family structures, including single-parent households and families with LGBTQ+ parents are somehow inferior to two-parent, heterosexual families.

What's Next

We anticipate the trend of weaponizing religious freedom will continue, largely driven by the political agenda and policy choices of our current federal administration. Our team will continue our tireless efforts to stop these kinds of laws: our constitution is clear about matters of church and state.

Crucially, we are committed to fighting Christian nationalist legislation because these bills offer the rights of LGBTQ+ folks and others as collateral, and all for the sake of increased control and political power. Christian nationalist sentiments, policy, and laws have no place in Idaho—or in any democracy.