2026 - HB 656 - Student Immigration Status Data Collection

HB 656 requires Idaho's State Board of Education to collect and report data on the immigration status, nationality, and primary language of every student enrolled in Idaho public schools, charter schools, and public colleges and universities. That data gets compiled into an annual report submitted to the legislature.

Even though the bill says data will be aggregated and not used to discriminate, the very act of collecting and categorizing students by immigration status in a public school system could create a chilling effect for undocumented or mixed-status families.