On March 19, 2025, Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 41, banning flags and banners that depict a religious, political, or ideological point of view in public schools. This law applies to classrooms, hallways, entryways, and playing fields. The bill was enacted on July 1st, 2025.
Idaho State Representative Ted Hill introduced the bill, co-sponsoring it with Senator Tammy Nichols.
Hill stated in an interview, “There was a distraction away from the American flag, particularly with all the other political flags. It was a challenge because what we thought was disunited and distracting for the students was always a frustration… Everybody gets a piece of the action, or nobody gets a piece of the action.”
This legislation, however, allows for the United States flag, the official flag of the state of Idaho or any of the other 49 official state flags, county flags, official school flags, official United States military unit or branch flags, official flags of Indian tribes, and “official flags of recognized foreign nations with which the United States is not engaged in hostile action,”. Additionally, flags and banners recognized by the Idaho Department of Education are allowed, as well as flags or banners for achievements, flags or banners representing school mascots and colors, public university or community college flags or banners, school district flags or banners, or “any other political subdivision or governmental instrumentality of or within the state.”
“This is to bring order and uniformity, and unity for these kids. Young kids need to look at the American flag and say, ‘That’s the symbol of what brings us together,’” said Representative Hill.
House Bill 41 gives the Idaho State Department of Education full authority to enforce this law, and no municipal or county law enforcement will require schools to follow it. Schools found to be in violation of the law are required to remove the offending flag or banner.
Another exemption to this law is written in Title 33, Chapter 1, Section 33-141 of the Idaho Code, which states that Idaho schools and universities must display the national motto “In God We Trust” in a visible place if a properly designed poster or framed copy is donated to them, and it follows the specific design and content rules.
Additionally, House Bill 41 does not ban the presentation of religious, political, or ideological t-shirts, pins, clothing, posters, or student-led organizations in schools.
“I think having more clarity on what is political. Especially now in society, lots of things that should not be political have the capacity to become politicized,” said Mike Wilkinson, Co-President of the Twin Falls Education Association (TFEA).
Mr. Randall Miskin, Canyon Ridge High School’s principal, said, “One of the challenges with the law is that many flags have taken on new or shifting meanings over time. Some symbols that were once purely historical or cultural have been ‘claimed’ by modern movements, which can make it difficult to determine what might be viewed as political.”
“At Canyon Ridge, we’ve emphasized to staff that our role is not to promote political viewpoints, but rather to help students learn how to think, not what to think,” said Miskin, “Our goal is simply to comply with the law while keeping our classrooms welcoming and focused on learning.”
