IdahoIdaho’s workforce council coordinates science education and career training
Idaho’s Workforce Development Council connects science and technical education with job training, with contributing partners covering at least half the funding for approved special projects.
What it does
Idaho’s Workforce Development Council coordinates science and technical education until June 30, 2036. Contributing partners must cover at least half the funding for approved special projects.
The law directs all STEM Education Fund money into the Workforce Development Training Fund. That fund also pays the STEM fund’s obligations as of July 1, 2026.
The Workforce Development Council helps run the public school computer science initiative with state education leaders. Its work includes teacher training and access to teaching resources.
Argument forCoordinating science education with job training could help schools connect student learning with skills that Idaho employers need.
Argument againstPartners with limited money or resources could struggle to cover the required half-share of approved special projects.
More detail
The Idaho Workforce Development Council coordinates science, technology, engineering, and math education with job training. The work brings schools, employers, and government together through hands-on learning, educator training, and education partnerships. Partners contributing to council-approved special projects must cover at least 50% of project funding. Materials, staff, facilities, and services may count toward that share. The council must report yearly to the governor and the legislature’s budget committee on general fund commitments, spending, and results from this work. These provisions apply on and after July 1, 2026. The stated coordination duty lasts until June 30, 2036.
The state controller must transfer all STEM Education Fund money to the Workforce Development Training Fund. The Workforce Development Training Fund may support science, technology, engineering, and math education and skills training, including with public or private contributions. The receiving fund pays obligations the STEM Education Fund had on July 1, 2026. Spending for science education and skills training requires council approval under its spending rules. The transfer was required on July 1, 2026, or as soon afterward as practical, but no later than July 31, 2026.
The Workforce Development Council works with state education leaders to carry out Idaho’s public school computer science initiative. The initiative serves public school districts and public charter schools through teacher training, teaching resources, and computer science learning opportunities. The council’s executive director may choose teaching program providers through a competitive proposal process. The council and the State Board of Education must report yearly to the legislature on the initiative. The provisions apply on and after July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 184 Effective: 07/01/2026 SECTION 1-5 & 7-10; 10/01/2026 SECTION 6Became Law
- Mar 26Delivered to Governor at 4:39 p.m. on March 25, 2026To Governor
- Mar 25Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 25Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 25Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 24Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 24Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 23Read third time in full – PASSED - 33-0-2AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – Adams, Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - LentTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 18Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 17Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 10Introduced, read first time; referred to: EducationMinor
- Mar 10Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 9Rules Suspended: Ayes 65 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 5, read in full as required – PASSED - 65-0-5AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson(Larsen), Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Haws, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – NoneAbsent – Green, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, ManwaringFloor Sponsor - Tanner(14)Title apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 65 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 5, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 6Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 26Reported Printed and Referred to Education
- Feb 25Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
EducationEconomy & Jobs