An Idaho anti-DEI bill prohibiting various diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education has been signed by Governor Brad Little as of April 4. It was declared an emergency and will come into effect on July 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 1198 is designed to eliminate mandatory DEI courses for degree paths that don’t specifically concern them, ban DEI programs on-campus and enforce that no hiring or admissions are based on these ideas.
SB 1198 defines DEI as anything involving topics such as race, bias, colonialism, oppression, “social justice,” intersectionality, “privilege,” patriarchy, gender theory, sexuality and “any other related formulation of these … concepts.”
DEI-related courses are any courses taken for credit that contains any of the previous concepts. The bill prevents colleges and universities from creating a course that requires or “otherwise compels” students to enroll in DEI-related courses. Unless a degree specifically calls for teachings on the subjects of diversity, equity and inclusion, like gender or ethnic studies, universities will be unable to require the courses.
The bill also prohibits any state colleges or universities from considering DEI in admissions or hiring. It also bans DEI-related offices, programs or staff, diversity training or bias reporting.
Schools across the state would be affected by this new set of policies, including the public universities that have already been hit by other government-mandated DEI closures.
Back in December, the University of Idaho, among other state schools, shut down all school-sanctioned DEI programs after the Idaho State Board of Education voted to ban DEI offices from four-year higher education institutions across the state. This included the Black/African American Cultural Center, LGBTQA Office, the Women’s Center and more.
SB 1198 doubles down on the anti-DEI policies that have been prevalent in this past year and would also blur the line regarding what elements of DEI are and are not allowed in spaces of education, like various courses and even conversations.
Once the bill becomes effective, violations of the bill would be subject to enforcement by Idaho’s attorney general. Penalties may be up to $50,000 per violation.
The bill was originally proposed on Jan. 9 by Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene. At the center of the bill, Toews aims to make DEI courses an option, not a requirement.
Sen. Toews co-sponsored the bill with Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale.
Paige Wilton can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu.