Idaho Capitol Watch
SB 1285: OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING – Amends and adds to existing law to provide for equivalency between high school graduation and graduation from a nonpublic school for licensing requirements.
SB 1285, now effective law, requires all Idaho occupational and professional licensing authorities to treat a high school diploma earned from a nonpublic school by a person age 18 or older as legally equivalent to a diploma from an accredited high school or a GED. The bill adds a new general equivalency rule and amends more than a dozen specific licensing statutes so homeschool and nonpublic school graduates meet the education prerequisite for licenses in fields including podiatry, mortuary science, real estate, water system operation, hearing aid dealing, sign language interpreting, court reporting, massage therapy, polysomnography, driver instruction, and barbering/cosmetology. All other training, testing, examination, and character requirements remain unchanged. The measure passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support and took effect immediately upon signing.
Status
Effective (March 26, 2026) · Originated in the Idaho Senate · Introduced February 13, 2026
Sponsors
- COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Committees
- JR for Printing
Bill history
- March 23, 2026 — House: Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 67-2-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, (passed)
- March 24, 2026 — Senate: Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
- March 25, 2026 — House: Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
- March 25, 2026 — House: Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor
- March 25, 2026 — House: delivered to Governor at 4:33 p.m. on 03/25/26
- March 26, 2026 — House: Signed by Governor on 03/26/26
- March 26, 2026 — House: Session Law Chapter 135
- March 26, 2026 — House: Effective: 03/26/26
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