|
As we observe Presidents Day, we honor the legacy of George Washington. His dedication to the nation and his belief in the power of the people and the importance of self-governance continues to inspire me as I continue to work to put Idaho first.
Here’s a look at what’s been happening at the Capitol this week:
Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC)
The maintenance budgets are finally starting to move forward. They were sent to print today, and both the House and Senate are expected to vote on them sometime next week.
On Friday, the JFAC committee voted on and advanced eight enhancement budgets to the House and Senate floors for consideration.
So far, JFAC has voted on and allocated approximately $12.24 billion. However, we still have not decided on a final revenue. Generally, one sets their revenue first and then starts allocating money to wants and needs.
Teton Dam Water Storage Proposal Moves to the Senate Floor
This week, I had the privilege of presenting Senate Joint Memorial 101 (SJM 101) to the Senate Resources and Environment Committee. SJM 101 calls for a renewed study of potential water storage projects across Idaho, including the reconstruction of the Teton Dam.
Water is essential to Idaho’s agriculture, communities, and economy, and securing long-term, sustainable water solutions is critical to our state's future. I’m pleased to share that the committee voted unanimously to advance the measure to the Senate floor for a full vote.
A Look Back: The Teton Dam Disaster
The Teton Dam, located in eastern Idaho, completed in 1976, was intended to provide irrigation, flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation opportunities. However, as the dam was filled for the first time, a catastrophic failure occurred on June 5, 1976, sending a massive wall of water downstream and devastating communities like Rexburg, Sugar City, and Wilford. The disaster resulted in significant damage, the loss of homes and livelihoods, and a tragic loss of life.
The collapse was attributed to design flaws and poor geological understanding. However, engineering has advanced, and standards have significantly improved since then. Revisiting this water storage site could provide much-needed resources to support Idaho’s growing population and water needs.
A Personal Perspective: A Text Message That Changed Everything
This past summer, while considering this legislation, I reached out via text to all our Southeast Idaho legislators. The responses were overwhelmingly supportive, but one message stood out:
"I was a young man at the time. I remember we lost everything—our farm, house, and livestock. I’ll never forget helping my father pull cows out of the tops of trees. I am 110% in favor of this legislation.”
As I began to read the message, I thought, “oh no, I’ve offended my friend by even suggesting this legislation.” As I read the final line of the message, I was reminded that while the disaster left deep scars in the hearts of many, Idahoans are resilient. We learn from the past, innovate for the future, and work together to solve challenges.
|
Collaborating with Local Leaders & Experts
I’ve met with members of the Rexburg City Council and representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation. In these in-depth discussions experts have assured me that, if given the opportunity, the Teton Dam could be rebuilt safely using modern engineering practices that address the flaws of the past and ensure long-term reliability.
The Future of Idaho Water:
Water is Idaho's lifeblood. This proposal isn’t just about rebuilding the Teton Dam—it's about protecting our farmers, businesses, communities. This proposal is a step forward in securing Idaho’s water future by preparing for droughts, population growth, and future economic demands
SJM 101 encourages state and federal agencies to:
- Update existing water storage studies.
- Explore the safe, responsible reconstruction of the Teton Dam.
- Evaluate other potential projects, including Minidoka Dam, Twin Springs Dam, and Jackson Lake Dam.
As the bill heads to the Senate floor, I invite you to follow along and share your thoughts.
Governor’s Investment in Idaho’s Water Future:
In his 2026 State of the State Address, Governor Little announced a significant investment in Idaho’s water resources. A proposed $30 million in ongoing, annual funding to address critical water needs across the state..
The Idaho Water Resource Board, which plans and manages the state’s water resources, will oversee this funding to ensure priority projects receive necessary resources.
Honoring Our Idaho Educators!
This week, I had the privilege of meeting with three outstanding teachers from Southeast Idaho. These educators are true rockstars! Their passion for teaching, dedication to their students, and love for our communities was truly inspiring. They are deeply invested in Idaho's educational success. They shared innovative teaching methods that make learning engaging and impactful. We discussed challenges they face as well as other key education topics, including:
● School security
● Student respect
● Reading proficiency
● Facility improvements
● School choice
Their stories reminded me how fortunate we are to have such hardworking, creative educators whose impact extends far beyond the classroom and into our communities and future generations. Education isn’t just about textbooks and tests—it's about building strong, capable citizens for tomorrow. Let’s continue to support and celebrate Idaho’s teachers every single day.
To all our teachers: Thank you for your hard work and commitment!
|
Why I Voted Against Senate Bill 1044: Cursive Handwriting Proficiency
This bill will require all children to be proficient in cursive handwriting before leaving the 3rd grade. This bill passed the Senate Education Committee 7-1. As the only senator to vote against it, I’ll admit I felt a bit like a jerk, but I did not take this stance lightly. Before you criticize my vote, let me explain my reasoning.
1. Times Have Changed: Cursive is no longer essential
Latin was once a core subject in high schools and universities, required for college admission. Today, it’s no longer necessary for communication, and we’ve shifted to learning languages like Spanish, French, and Russian that are more useful in the modern world.
Cursive is following that same path. It’s no longer essential for communication. Signatures no longer have to be in cursive—you can print your name, and most official documents now use electronic signatures. Technology also allows cursive writing to be easily translated into print, just as Latin manuscripts are translated into English for readability.
I believe education should prepare kids for the future—not the past.
2. Brain Development Happens in Many Ways
Supporters of this bill argue that cursive helps with brain development and encourages creativity. While that's true, many other activities offer similar benefits with more real-world application.
Boosting Brain Development
- Learning a second language
- Playing a musical instrument
- Solving puzzles & brain games
- Engaging in physical activity & sports
- Learning coding & programming
Encouraging Creativity
- Drawing & painting
- Creative writing & storytelling
- Theater & acting
- Building & engineering projects
- Cooking & baking
3. Let’s Use Our Time Wisely
Our time in school is precious. We should use it to teach kids skills they will actually use in their careers and daily lives.
If a student wants to learn cursive, that’s great. But forcing every child to master it before they finish 3rd grade is not the best use of our time or resources.
Education is not about upholding tradition—it’s about prioritizing what actually benefits our kids and their future.
Despite my vote being an outlier, I stand by my vote. I believe the best way to strengthen Idaho’s future is by educating our students for the world ahead, not the past.
Senate Bill 1046: Human growth and development instruction in
The bill mandates that schools in Idaho must teach human growth and development for students in grade 5-12. This instruction must include specific materials, including a high-definition ultrasound video and computer-generated animations of fetal development.
Why I Voted Against it: Defending Local Control & School Districts
As your Idaho State Senator, I take education policy very seriously. I believe in the importance of local control over education policy. My goal is always to ensure that communities and school districts can govern themselves without unnecessary state interference. While I support education on this topic, I voted against this bill for several reasons.
1. Local Control Matters
SB-1046 takes away decision-making power from local school districts and hands it over to the state. School boards should determine how to teach sensitive subjects, not the state. We elect local school boards to make local decisions, and we need to let them do their job. They know their students best and should have the flexibility to design a curriculum that fits their needs.
I reached out to one of our local school board chairmen who was willing to share their thoughts on the topic:
"It seems like the Legislature is wanting to take over in a lot of areas instead of allowing the locals to do what is best for their community. Half our board policies, or at least a good number of them, just quote state statute now."
This confirmed my concern that there is becoming a pattern where state interference is stripping away the ability of local leaders to make decisions that best serve their students and community.
2. Government Should Not Have the Power to Force Compliance
Another major concern is the power it gives the Attorney General (AG) to compel school districts to comply with the law (Section 3). Let me give you a scenario: If a school district chooses a different approach to better educate their students based on their needs, the AG could take legal action to force them to comply. This means the state government would have the power to override local control. This leads to the question of: What’s next? What other subjects could the state demand be taught a certain way?
Passing this bill could set a dangerous precedent, as it opens the door to more state mandates, taking away even more local authority in the future.
3. What’s the Rush? Let’s Get It Right.
This bill was rushed through committee without considering the real-life impact it would have on schools, parents, and local districts. By sending it to the amending order, we are giving the Legislature the chance to fix its problems before forcing it into law. This can allow for more discussion to ensure the best approach is taken.
Conclusion:
I fully support teaching students about human growth and development in a way that reflects Idaho values, but these decisions should be made at the local level, not through state mandates with legal threats attached. Curriculum decisions should remain at the local level. That’s why I voted against SB-1046 in its current form.
I will always stand up for local control in education and push back against government overreach. I believe in Idaho’s parents, teachers, and school boards to make the best decisions for their communities—without the state stepping in and taking over.
|
New Funding Formula for K-12
Today in the Senate Education Committee, we got a sneak peek at a new student-based funding formula for our K-12 schools!
This new approach is designed to follow the student, not just the school, by using a "weighted" formula that takes into account things like special education needs, English language learners, and at-risk students.
Superintendent Debbie Critchfield was enthusiastic about the plan, and we heard strong support from teachers, local superintendents, and education leaders like Quinn Perry (Idaho School Boards Association) and Andy Grover (Idaho Association of School Administrators). Even Chris Cargill, President & CEO of Mountain States Policy Center, gave it a thumbs-up!
It’s great to see so many education experts working together to give Idaho students the best shot at success. What do you think about this new student-focused funding model? Share your thoughts below!
|
School Choice Bill failed to pass: What’s next?
On Friday, the Senate voted on Senator Dave Lent's School Choice bill (SB 1025)—and unfortunately, it failed to pass. The debate was surprisingly brief, with only three senators rising to share their thoughts.
Out of the two School Choice bills we've seen this session, Senator Lent’s bill was, in my opinion, the better option. It provided:
- Transparency – Clear tracking of funds.
- Accountability – Ensuring funds were used appropriately.
- Targeted Support – 75% of funds went to low-income families earning less than $60,000.
- A More Level Playing Field – Private schools would have been required to follow key standards, like accreditation and background checks, similar to public schools.
By contrast, Rep. Wendy Horman’s bill (HB 93):
- Prioritizes higher-income families, allowing eligibility for those earning up to $93,000 per year.
- Lacks accountability and transparency, with no clear reporting on how funds would be spent.
Constitutional Concerns
While I understand the desire to expand educational opportunities, I have serious concerns about both bills and their ability to withstand constitutional scrutiny. The Idaho Constitution is clear about public funds and their use in education.
I believe we need to pause, take a step back, and carefully evaluate whether these proposals align with constitutional principles. Rushing forward without addressing these concerns could jeopardize the entire effort and create more problems than solutions.
Our kids deserve the best education possible—but we must get it right.
I’m committed to working with my colleagues to find innovative, responsible solutions that protect Idaho’s constitutional integrity while supporting educational opportunities for all families.
Let’s slow down, think it through, and get it right.
|
Neal Larson Show - Talking Education & Teamwork
On Thursday, I had the privilege of joining Neal Larson and Julie Mason on their radio show.
They asked me a great question:
“Is the atmosphere in the Senate different this year compared to years past?”
I shared that it feels like we’re working better together. We still vote our different ways and have varying viewpoints, but once the votes are counted, we roll up our sleeves and work side-by-side on the next challenge. Collaboration, not division, is how we get things done for Idaho.
We also dove into a hot topic in education: School Choice. Neal mentioned he supports HB 93 (sponsored by Rep. Wendy Horman) and asked me:
"Why would you want to prevent a low-income child from accessing a private education?"
My answer was simple: I don’t. That’s exactly why I plan to vote for Senator Dave Lent’s bill, SB 1025. I explained the difference:
- Senator Lent's bill (SB 1025) prioritizes 75% of the funds for families earning less than $60,000, 20% for those between $60,000 and $80,000, and 5% for families earning over $80,000. It’s a targeted, needs-based approach that puts lower-income families first.
- Representative Horman’s bill (HB 93), on the other hand, provides funds to anyone earning under $93,000—without the same level of accountability and focus on our most vulnerable students.
It was a great conversation—as always—because Neal and Julie do such a fantastic job. I appreciate their thoughtful questions and the chance to talk about education and the work we’re doing in the Senate.
Want to hear the full conversation? 👉 Click here to listen.
|
Coming up next week...
HB 93: The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit - This is in the 3rd reading on the Senate floor. This legislation provides for a refundable tax credit up to $5,000 for a parent, guardian or foster parent who incurs qualified education expenses for an eligible student.
I will be presenting the following bills on the Senate floor next week:
SB 1070 - Parent Technical Act: This bill simply requires school districts to offer free online education for parents regarding the dangers and online threats children face when given a device.
SJM 101 - Additional Water Storage: This Joint Memorial urges federal and state agencies to study and develop additional water storage solutions for Idaho, including the potential reconstruction of the Teton Dam.
SCR 106 - Religious Freedom Day: This concurrent resolution designates January 16th as “Religious Freedom Day,” ensuring that religious freedom remains a cornerstone of our state’s values. This was brought to me by one of my constituents.
H 35 - Multi-Factor Authentication: This will strengthen Idaho’s cybersecurity framework and help protect our state’s data infrastructure.
It’s an honor to serve you, and I always welcome your thoughts and feedback. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can continue strengthening Idaho’s future.
Sen Kevin Cook
Contact and Connect:
Committees:
- Education
- Finance
- Resources & Environment
|
|
