Idaho wraps up a monumentally successful legislative session
- MSPC Newsroom
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
The 2025 legislative session may go down as one of Idaho's most significant.
Legislators adjourned Friday afternoon, 89 days after they kicked off the session on a foggy, cold January morning in Boise. Nearly 800 bills later, the gavel finally came down.
From a free market perspective, Idahoans did quite well.
Legislators adopted more than $400 million in tax reductions, including an MSPC recommendation to lower the state's income tax and increase the state's grocery tax rebate.
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In total, lawmakers approved:
Income tax reduction - $253 million
State funds for local property tax relief - $100 million
Grocery tax rebate increase - $50 million
Along with these important taxpayer savings, many of MSPC's other policy recommendations were acted on this year. On December 17, we posted our policy wish list for lawmakers to consider during the 2025 Legislative session. Several of our recommendations were enacted, including:
Reform the ballot fiscal impact statement process - (SB 1117)
Don’t expand the Hospital 340B program without reforms first - (HB 136)
Consider reasonable Medicaid work requirements - (HB 345)
Expand options for students and families with enhanced education choice opportunities by adopting an education choice tax credit - (HB 93)
The education choice tax credit victory is likely the most significant for Idaho families and children.
MSPC helped kick off session on January 6th with an education choice policy forum at the state capitol featuring former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. At the event, legislators announced plans to introduce what became known as H93 - an education choice tax credit.
After much public testimony and input, both chambers passed and the Governor signed the legislation, which provides a $5,000 tax credit to qualifying families for educational expenses including private school tuition. Special needs students can qualify for $7,500 tax credits.
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The policy change - a Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC) recommendation based on years of research - was sponsored by Senators Lori Den Hartog and Scott Grow, and Representatives Wendy Horman and Jason Monks. Idaho now joins the dozens of other states with expanded choice options.
MSPC researchers were also invited to testify on other policies. Along with the above-mentioned bills, we provided analysis to lawmakers on:
"We appreciate the work of all legislators, who take time away from family and community to serve the people's interests," MSPC President Chris Cargill said Friday.
"We hope they can now get some rest."