Idaho lawmakers have their first look at a bill that would subsidize private school tuition to the tune of $50 million in taxpayer money.

Hundreds of educators from across Idaho gathered at the Idaho Statehouse Monday to speak out against school vouchers, a hot topic that impacts public education funding.

The Idaho Legislature has introduced House Bill 17, a proposal to establish a wildfire risk pool and grant program aimed at reducing property insurance costs and encouraging wildfire risk mitigation efforts.

Gov. Brad Little shakes hands with members of the media after a news conference about his Keeping Promises budget priorities and looking forward to the 2025 legislative session. He visited StanCraft Jet Center in Hayden on Monday. (Kathy Plonka/The Spokesman-Review)

Gov. Brad Little announces $100M wildfire management plan and new legislation to help protect Idaho homes and stabilize insurance rates amid growing risks.

Governor Brad Little held a press conference today to update Idahoans on the many ways Idaho is working to ensure our state does not experience tragic wildfire events like the ones raging in southern California this month.

During Friday's press conference, Little suggested the state focus on fire mitigation technology, infrastructure protection and insurance rate stabilization.

On Friday, Trump was sentenced in New York for making an illegal hush money payment to an adult film star, making him the first convicted felon to occupy the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against Trump’s request to delay his sentencing in a 5-4 vote. Trump may have said at one point, "We have to find a quiet place sometime."

Idaho has not carried out any executions by firing squads and a facility for such executions needs to be built. It is among the states that have turned to alternative methods after struggling to obtain lethal drugs since pharmaceutical companies barred the use of their drugs in executions.

Idaho’s largest teachers’ union, as well as associations representing school administrators and elected school boards, joined to oppose subsidizing private school tuition with tax dollars Monday.

The total cost would be $50 million, with priority given to families that are at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, but any family may apply.