By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief
“One of the things that unites us all as a culture, as a country, as a state, is language. And we see more and more people that are moving to the United States … And what used to be the desired effect, which was assimilation — learn the language, learn the culture, learn the history — those things have slipped away. And we don’t see assimilation anymore. And I believe that if we have a common language, then our culture will survive.” - Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, who supports a proposed constitutional amendment to make English Idaho’s official language
Ada County election workers sort hundreds of absentee ballots for the the 2026 general election on Oct. 1, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)
ELECTION 2026
English is already Idaho’s official language. Voters can add it to the state’s constitution.
By Kyle Pfannenstiel
In 2007, Idaho lawmakers passed a law to make English the state’s official language.
That law, which is still on the books, requires English to be used as “the sole language of government.” But it lists many exceptions to its requirement that government documents be in English, such as for law enforcement or for “public health and safety needs,” to ensure public schools can teach students who are learning English and to ensure colleges and universities can teach other languages.
In this year’s general election on Nov. 3, Idaho voters will decide on whether to amend the state’s constitution to declare English as the state’s official language.
But what isn’t immediately clear, some say, is whether the amendment will end existing exemptions in state law that allow languages other than English to be used by government agencies.
Firefighters construct handline on the southeast portion of the McCully Fire in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Oregon on Aug. 24, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the National Interagency Fire Center)
GOVERNMENT + POLITICS
Oregon’s Merkley, Utah’s Curtis propose extending military death benefits to fallen firefighters
By Alex Baumhardt
Merkley and Curtis on Monday introduced the Honoring Fallen Wildland Firefighters Act to provide for firefighters’ families the up to $100,000 benefit currently extended to families of U.S. military members killed in combat. The federal government currently provides a maximum death benefit of $10,000 to federal wildland firefighters’ families.
“I Voted” stickers await Bonneville County voters for the primary election on May 21, 2024, at the College of Easter Idaho in Idaho Falls. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)
COMMENTARY
Idaho voters should ask themselves 1 question: Are you better off than you were 18 months ago?
By Rod Gramer
This year’s midterm election is not just a referendum on Trump – it is also a referendum on the acolytes in Congress who have not challenged his policies, writes guest columnist Rod Gramer.
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ICYMI
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