Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 436 adds a new section to Idaho Code prohibiting public institutions of higher education from requiring or requesting students, faculty, or employees to disclose or affirm pronouns, preferred names, or gender identity. The bill also bars these institutions from penalizing, disciplining, or denying access to services or benefits based on an individual’s refusal to use or provide such information. Surveys or written forms that request pronoun disclosures are likewise prohibited.

Enforcement authority is granted to the State Board of Education, and violations may result in reduced state appropriations for the offending institution. The legislation applies only to state-funded colleges and universities and does not apply to private institutions or K-12 schools. The bill includes an emergency clause and becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

House Bill 436 aligns with the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s commitment to protecting free speech, individual liberty, and freedom of conscience. It ensures that students and faculty are not compelled to participate in ideologically driven gender identity policies and reinforces the principle that government-funded institutions must respect differing viewpoints on sensitive social issues. By banning coercive pronoun practices while allowing individuals to express themselves freely, the bill upholds the platform’s emphasis on both personal responsibility and resistance to compelled ideological conformity. For these reasons, H0436 is rated +1.