The 2026 Idaho legislative session was dominated by funding cuts across the board to offset deficits from deep tax cuts over the past 5 years. This left little time, and far less money, to address affordability concerns that many Idahoans are facing.

NOVA Idaho is creating an Affordability Index to understand how legislators voted on key bills that impact our ability to support ourselves. Votes on key bills that address aspects of affordability for all Idahoans - from children to adults, working families to retirees are included in the index:

Bills were selected from the following focus areas:

• Housing

• Healthcare

• Childcare

• Food

• Education