FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Diane Garvey
Organization: Idaho Children Are Primary
Phone: 208-949-0682
Email: dianeschwarz@hotmail.com
 

Idaho’s Children Deserve Better from Our Legislature

Non-Profit Urges Action Following Legislative Session That Failed Idaho Kids

Boise, ID – [April 10, 2025] – As the 2025 Idaho Legislative session dragged on past its intended adjournment date, one glaring truth emerged: our children were not the priority. While lawmakers bickered, introduced last-minute personal bills, and catered to special interests, Idaho’s children were left behind. Idaho Children Are Primary, a non-profit dedicated to evaluating legislation through the lens of child well- being, is calling on Idahoans to hold their legislators accountable and demand better for our children.

Idahoans Urged to Take Action

Idaho Children Are Primary is urging citizens to take action in four key ways:

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1. Hold Your Legislators Accountable – Ask your representatives and senators to explain their votes this session. Do they align with your values? Are they responsive? If not, make your voice heard. Find your legislator: [Who’s My Legislator? – Idaho State Legislature]

2. Engage with Your Community – Talk to your neighbors and fellow Idahoans. Attend rallies, town halls, or school board meetings. Grassroots change starts with you.

3. Stay Informed & Vote – Pay attention to who is running for office—from local school boards to statewide positions. These leaders shape daily life. Get involved, ask questions, and show up at the ballot box.

4. Pay Close Attention to the 2026 May Primary! – Many incumbents who supported children by taking courageous votes were primaried in 2024 and lost their seats to extremists funded by out-of-state money. Check out our Kids Matter Index for your legislator, and vote for the candidates who vote for kids!

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Legislative Failures Highlighted

The 2025 legislative session saw repeated failures to support Idaho’s children:

• Education & Special Needs: School facilities remain underfunded, and students with special needs continue to be underserved.

• Child Welfare & Family Support: Child welfare services remain overburdened and under-resourced.

• Food & Medical Assistance: Lawmakers blocked food assistance, school lunches, and Medicaid for children and pregnant mothers simply because their parents are undocumented.

• Misplaced Priorities: Instead of addressing real issues, legislators debated flags, defunded programs they disapproved of, and pushed religious readings in public schools.
  Every day wasted on political theater is a day a child goes without critical support.

The Consequences of Legislative Neglect

Rather than addressing Idaho’s severe daycare shortages, legislators weakened childcare standards, compromising safety and increasing risks for children. With the passage of Medicaid reforms, more parents will lose coverage, leaving children without access to regular checkups and immunizations. If the government exists to serve the people, shouldn’t ensuring children receive healthcare and safe childcare be a top priority?

Measuring Legislative Commitment to Kids

Idaho Children Are Primary evaluates legislation based on a simple question: Is this good for Idaho kids?

For the fifth year, the organization has published its Kids Matter Index (KMI) to score lawmakers on their support for children. In 2025, the evaluation covered 24 bills addressing tax credits for private schools, school funding, Medicaid, public benefits, and daycare licensing.

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• Only 25% of legislators scored 80% or above (a strong pro-child record), down from 30% in 2024 and 40% in 2023.

• 65% of legislators scored below 69%, compared to 57% in 2024 and 47% in 2023.

• The trend is clear: Idaho’s lawmakers are making children less of a priority every year.

 

Here are the legislators who consistently voted for children:

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• Scores of (90-100%)

  • Senators: Guthrie, Rabe, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow

  • Representatives: Achilles, Berch, Church, Egbert, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Mathias, Rubel, Sauter, Wheeler

• Scores of (80-89%)

  • Senator Woodward

  • Representatives: Cheatum, Fuhriman, McCann, Garner, Mickelsen, Nelsen, Raymond

 

See all legislators at 2025 Legislator Index | Idaho Children Are Primary

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The Power is in Our Hands

Idaho’s Constitution states: “All political power is inherent in the people.” When representatives prioritize special interests over children, they betray that principle.

“We must demand better,” said Julie Yamamoto, Board Member at Idaho Children Are Primary (ICAP). “Investing in children means funding education, strengthening childcare and child welfare services, and expanding healthcare access. Idaho’s future depends on the choices we make today. Let’s ensure our lawmakers choose our children.”  ICAP encourages all Idahoans to choose our lawmakers wisely in the May Primary.