Gov. Brad Little exempted K-12 public schools from 3% budget holdbacks earlier this year. But last week, the budget committee co-chairs directed all government sectors, including public education, to prepare plans for what any additional 1% and 2% holdbacks would look like. Logan Finney sat down with Quinn Perry, deputy director of the Idaho School Board Association, to discuss what additional budget holdbacks would mean on the ground in Idaho’s public schools.

Looming budget cuts have already defined this legislative session, and stakeholders are weighing in on how saving a dollar today could cost state and local governments much more in the future. This week, Ivy Walker with Idaho Voices for Children, Sen. Julie Van Orden, Sen. Jim Woodward, and Nampa mother Trixy Ward discuss proposals to cut Medicaid costs, and how those might affect Idaho families.

The Idaho Supreme Court heard arguments last Friday on the Parental Choice Tax Credit, a policy that lawmakers passed last year allowing parents to write off up to $5,000 in private education expenses on their state taxes. Producer Logan Finney sat down after the hearing with Chris Cargill, president of the Mountain States Policy Center, to get his take on the court challenge.

Money is tight for every Idaho government agency, but when it comes to public education there are constitutional and legal requirements, particularly for special education students. Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield and State Board of Education executive director Jennifer White give us their takes on the public schools and higher education budget landscape this year.

In this tight budget-setting season, Gov. Brad Little has worked to shield K-12 public schools from cuts and holdbacks, but higher education has had no such luck. With increasing enrollment systemwide and an open president seat at Boise State University, Idaho’s higher education institutions have a lot on their plate. Logan Finney sat down this week with Idaho State Board of Education Executive Director Jennifer White to discuss the budget picture and other higher education topics up for discussion this session.

Everyone is looking at the same revenue and budget numbers after the State of the State, but they're coming to some very different conclusions. This week, we take a look at the reactions to the speech, then producer Logan Finney talks about priorities for the session with two new members of House leadership, Assistant Majority Leader Doug Pickett and Minority Caucus Chair Monica Church.

Lawmakers are still trying to get their arms around the One Big Beautiful Bill, but one thing they don’t have to consider yet is a transfer of federal lands to state management. Logan Finney sits down with Sen. Ben Adams to talk about a constitutional amendment he’s working on that would govern how Idaho would handle such a transfer.

Extra: House Republican Leaders Respond to 2026 State of the State by Idaho Public Television

Extra: Idaho Democratic Leaders Respond to 2026 State of the State by Idaho Public Television

Gov. Brad Little delivers his 2026 State of the State Address. Then, Idaho Reports host Melissa Davlin is joined by Director Lori Wolff of the Division of Financial Management, Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News, and Dr. Stephanie Wit of Boise State University’s School of Public Service to provide commentary and analysis of the governor’s budget and policy priorities.

Watch the Democratic response: https://youtu.be/IFB94ogZ0mg

Watch the Republican response: https://youtu.be/GvbwPzW7chw