BOISE — Gov. Brad Little highlighted big investments made in education, namely school facilities and Idaho Launch this year, but said next year he hopes to add school counselors to address student mental health needs.
Little reflected on the 2024 legislative session, including discussing Idaho’s abortion bans, fentanyl, school choice, and other topics during an event with reporters Thursday.
He said this year the Legislature was so “laser focused” on getting the school facility funding bill — HB 521 — and the work-force training grant program, Idaho Launch, that lawmakers didn’t get his proposal to add counselors at high schools, both for college and workforce-training advising and mental health.
“These teachers need help,” Little said.
His 2024 budget proposal had included $9 million for high school counselors and he pointed to social media as a major factor in mental health challenges faced by young people.
ABORTION
Little noted that Idaho is facing a problem with recruiting and retaining doctors, and said the Legislature may need to address some of the ramifications of the state’s strict abortion bans, which include felony punishments for providers to perform the procedure.
He said he frequently talks to health care leaders in the state who are worried about workforce shortages.
“With the least amount of doctors per capita of any state, we don’t need excuses for doctors to leave the state,” he said.
How to address it remains to be seen.
He said the court challenge over the lack of health exemptions in the ban that is currently being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court will offer “guidance” on how to clarify the law so doctors would be protected in emergency situations.
Lawmakers said there was work on legislation this year to add an exemption to protect the health of the mother but that nothing could get introduced. Some said that for any proposal to be likely to move forward, it would require buy-in from the influential anti-abortion group Idaho Chooses Life.
David Ripley, executive director of Idaho Chooses Life, has denied this.
Asked about the group’s influence, Little said that Ripley represents “a whole bunch of people that are active politically” and said that it’s a “well-respected group.”
FENTANYL
Little also talked about some of his initiatives to combat fentanyl in the community. In 2023, the Legislature approved around $5.9 million for equipment and a public awareness campaign to curb use of the potent opioid. This year, the agency said the equipment was purchased and has been coming in.
Little highlighted the increased testing ability, so law enforcement will know if substances have been laced with the drug.
He also said the campaign Fentanyl Takes All is increasing awareness, as indicated by a survey conducted last year. The survey found that between November 2022 and May 2023, the percentage of teenagers who knew about fentanyl increased 22% and the percentage of young adults who said they were concerned about the drug increased 23%.
SCHOOL CHOICE
Amid a growing push for “school choice” options that would allow state funds to go to private school tuition, Little said he questions “what they are trying to fix.”
He said that educational options in Idaho “are abundant” and he highlighted changes made this year to improve charter school funding.
Because Idaho has open enrollment, students here may not have the same issues as in other states related to being tied to one school district because of their home address.
He said the proposals he’s seen, that would allow funds to go to private institutions and home schoolers without requirements around reporting on curriculum, student achievement or how the funds are used, would reduce transparency and accountability.
However, the last couple legislative sessions have come with strong pressure to pass something related to added school choice. The Texas-based group American Federation for Children has spent tens of thousands of dollars lobbying for these bills. Many lawmakers who opposed the proposals have also faced stiff opposition in their primary election contests by opponents who support state funds going toward private K-12 tuition.
“Many of these things come from a national perspective to address a problem that we do not have here in Idaho,” Little said.
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