Gov. Little signs bill targeting DEI in higher education

BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Gov. Brad Little signed an amended version of Senate Bill 1198 last Friday, which targets DEI policies in higher education and aims to free students from “compulsory ideological training.”

The law, sponsored by Sen. Ben Toews (R-Coeur d’Alene) and Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale), bans DEI-based practices in admissions, hiring, employee incentives, employee training, and bias report systems. It would also prohibit DEI offices and officer positions.

The law also bans higher education facilities from forcing students to enroll in courses “implemented with DEI principles” unless the chosen course of study is based on those principles.

Institutions will be held accountable through annual reporting to Attorney General Raúl Labrador and the Idaho Legislature, according to the bill. Failure to comply would result in penalties from Labrador’s office.

The proposed law would not affect centers and scholarships for Native American students.

The Idaho House passed an amended version of Senate Bill 1198 through a 52-17 vote last Thursday. The Senate approved the amended bill through a 23-12 vote last Friday.

According to the bill’s text, the law goes into effect on July 1, 2025.