H0876 Cuts To 2027 State Board of Education Maintenance Budget

OPPOSE - This maintenance budget bill imposes a 5% base reduction for the Idaho State Board of Education in FY27- exceeding the Governor’s proposed 3% cut by two additional percentage points.

The reduction affects a wide range of programs and institutions, including the Agricultural Research and Extension Service, colleges and universities, community colleges, the Office of the State Board of Education, Health Education Programs, Career Technical Education, Idaho Public Television, Special Programs, the Department of Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.

We oppose this legislation because of its disproportionate impact on higher education—due in part to other agencies, including K–12 education, corrections, and state police, being shielded from deeper cuts. Students are already grappling with rising tuition and a higher cost of living; further reductions in state support will likely drive costs even higher, putting postsecondary education out of reach for many Idahoans. Colleges and universities are already eliminating programs and restructuring to absorb existing cuts; these future cuts will only make matters worse.

At its core, this debate is about the state’s responsibility to invest in its future workforce. A strong higher education system equips Idahoans with the skills and credentials needed for economic stability and mobility. Undermining that system threatens long-term prosperity and limits opportunity—especially for students without the means to absorb rising costs. We strongly oppose this legislation.

This legislation was signed into law on March 26, 2026.