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Idaho HJR 6, English as Official State Language Amendment (2026)
| Idaho HJR 6 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic English language policy |
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| Status On the ballot |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Idaho HJR 6, the English as Official State Language Amendment, is on the ballot in Idaho as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.
A "yes" vote supports adding a provision to the Idaho Constitution that designates English as the state's official language. |
A "no" vote opposes adding a provision to the Idaho Constitution that designates English as the state's official language, maintaining English as the state's official language in state statute only. |
Overview
How would HJR 6 change the official language of Idaho?
- See also: Senate Bill 1172
Since 2007, Idaho State Code 73-121 has designated English as the official language of the state and the sole language of the government.[1] HJR 6 would not make any changes to this state code, but would codify English as the official state language in the Idaho Constitution. It would also make it a constitutional requirement that all public proceedings, documents, instructions, and acts be in English, "except as required by federal law." [2] One example of a federal law that requires public proceedings be in a language other than English is Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act; this law requires polling information and election ballots to be printed in minority languages.[3]
How do supporters and opponents view this amendment?
- See also: Support and Opposition
State Sen. Brian Lenney (R-13) argues that the constitutional amendment is beneficial to the unity of the state and the nation. He stated, "This is a resolution that essentially says that language matters. It speaks to who we are as a nation. It binds us together as a people. It ties us to our history, our heroes and our heritage."[4] State Sen. James Ruchti (D-29) argues that adding an official language to the constitution is not restrictive of other languages, but instead the amendment is "just acknowledging what I believe is already taking place, which is English is the primary language we use here. It’s used in our communications, in government agencies, things like that."[4]
One argument against the amendment is that HJR 6 is unnecessary and a poor financial decision. State Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D-19) stated, "It’s pretty clear that English is our official language, and now we’re going to spend $300,000 to put it on the ballot — when we are struggling to pay the bills."[4] State Rep. John Gannon (D-17A) is concerned with the ability of non-English speakers to access public instruction. In expressing this view, he said, "people who are unable to speak English have to be taught in their language until they are familiar with English."[4]
How many states have designated English as their official state language?
As of 2025, 30 states have designated English as an official language. Three—Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota—designated some indigenous languages as co-official alongside English. Nine states have a constitutional provision declaring an official language, while the rest have provisions only in the state code.
Of the 30 states that designated English as their official language, 11 (37%) did so through voter-approved ballot measures. Measures were approved in Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, and Arizona. The trend of including English as an official language on the ballot emerged in the 1980s with California Proposition 63 and continued into the 2000s. The Idaho vote on HJR 6 will be the first since 2010, when Oklahoma voters approved a constitutional amendment. The Idaho state code that designated English as the official state language was approved by the legislature only, not by voters.
On March 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order designating English as the country's official language. Six days later, on March 7, State Rep. Dale Hawkins (R-2B) introduced the amendment into the legislature, saying, "Today I took a page out of the Trump administration’s book and proposed a constitutional amendment making English the official language of the state of Idaho."[5] No other state legislatures have introduced bills or constitutional amendments to designate an official language since the executive order.
This following map highlights the states that have designated official languages in their constitutions:
Text of measure
Ballot title
The proposed ballot title is as follows:[2]
| “ |
Shall Article X of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended by the addition of a new Section 8, to provide that the English language shall be the official language for the state of Idaho, and to further provide that, except as required by federal law, English shall be used in all public proceedings, public documents, public instruction, and any other public acts of any public institution in the state of Idaho?[6] |
” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article X, Idaho Constitution
The ballot measure would add a Section 8 to Article X of the Idaho Constitution. The following underlined text would be added:[2]
ENGLISH THE OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGE. The English language shall be the official language for the state of Idaho. Except as required by federal law, English shall be used in all public proceedings, public documents, public instruction, and any other public acts of any public institution in the state of Idaho.[6]
Support
Supporters
Officials
- State Sen. Brian Lenney (R)
- State Sen. James Ruchti (D)
- State Rep. Kyle Harris (R)
- State Rep. Dale Hawkins (R)
- State Rep. Mike Moyle (R)
Arguments
Opposition
Opponents
Officials
- State Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D)
- State Rep. Steve Berch (D)
- State Rep. John Gannon (D)
Arguments
Campaign finance
If you are aware of a committee registered to support or oppose this measure, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Background
Senate Bill 1172 (2007)
Senate Bill 1172 (SB 1172) amended the state code to declare English as the official and sole language of the government. The bill also outlined the permitted use of languages other than English in public institutions. These circumstances included exceptions provided by federal law and circumstances where law enforcement and public health require the use of other languages. The full text of the amended state code (Idaho Title 73 Section 121) can be seen below:[1]
Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the text below to view the ballot language.
GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS CHAPTER 1 CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES
73-121. CERTAIN DOCUMENTS TO BE IN ENGLISH THE OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGE.
(1) English is hereby declared to be the official language of the state of Idaho.
(2) Except as provided in this section, the English language is the sole language of the government.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, aAny document, certificate or instrument required to be filed, recorded or endorsed by any officer of this state, or of any county, city or district in this state, shall be in the English language or shall be accompanied by a certified translation in English and all transactions, proceedings, meetings or publications issued, conducted or regulated by, or on behalf of, or representing the state of Idaho, or any county, city or other political subdivision in this state shall be in the English language.
(4) Language other than English may be used when required:
- (a) By the United States Constitution, the Idaho Constitution, federal law or federal regulation;
- (b) By law enforcement or public health and safety needs;
- (c) By public schools according to the rules promulgated by the state board of education pursuant to subsection (6) of this section;
- (d) By the public postsecondary educational institutions to pursue educational purposes;
- (e) To promote and encourage tourism and economic development, including the hosting of international events;
- (f) To change the use of non-English terms of art, phrases, proper names or expressions included as part of communication otherwise in English; and
- (g) By libraries to:
- (i) Collect and promote foreign language materials; and
- (ii) Provide foreign language services and activities.
(5) Unless exempted by subsection (4) of this section, all state funds appropriated or designated for the printing or translation of materials or the provision of services or information in a language other than English shall be returned to the state general fund.
- (a) Each state agency that has state funds appropriated or designated for the printing or translation of materials or the provision of services or information in a language other than English shall:
- (i) Notify the state controller that those moneys exist and the amount of those moneys; and
- (ii) Return those moneys to the state controller for deposit into the state general fund.
- (b) The state controller shall account for those moneys and inform the legislature of the existence and amount of those moneys at the beginning of the legislature’s annual general session.
(6) The state board of education shall make rules governing the use of foreign languages in the public schools that promote the following principles:
- (a) Non-English speaking children and adults should become able to read, write and understand English as quickly as possible;
- (b) Foreign language instruction should be encouraged;
- (c) Formal and informal programs in English as a second language should be initiated, continued and expanded; and
- (d) Public schools should establish communication with non-English speaking parents within their systems, using a means designed to maximize understanding when necessary, while encouraging those parents who do not speak English to become more proficient in English.
The following is the timeline of the statute in the state legislature:[1]
- February 26, 2007: State Sen. Melvin Richardson introduced SB 1172 to the Idaho State Senate.
- March 7, 2007: The senate approved the bill in a vote of 28-7 to advance the bill the state House. Twenty Republicans voted in favor, and eight Republicans and seven Democrats voted against the bill.
- March 19, 2007: The house approved the bill in a vote of 46-20 with four representatives absent or not voting. Forty-five Republicans and one Democrat voted in favor of the bill. Two Republicans and 18 Democrats voted against the bill. Four Republicans were absent or not voting.
| Vote | Senate | House | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | NV | Yes | No | NV | |
| Total | 20 | 15 | 0 | 46 | 20 | 4 |
| Democratic (D) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| Republican (R) | 20 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 2 | 4 |
Executive Order 14224 (2025)
On March 1, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14224 (EO 14224), which declared English as the official language of the United States.[7] The federal government had never before through legislation or executive order declared a national language. EO 14224 references Executive Order 13166 (EO 13166), which was signed in August of 2000 by Bill Clinton. EO 13166 required federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funding to provide language services for non-English speakers.[8] EO 14224 rescinded this requirement but did not mandate that federal agencies remove language services to non-English speakers.
English ballot measures in other states
The following is a list of state ballot measures to designate English as an official state language:
Since 1900, 11 states have decided on 12 ballot measures that would make English the official state language. All 12 ballot measures (100%) were approved by voters. Arizona voted on the subject twice. In Ruiz v. Hull, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that Proposition 106 violated the First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution on April 28, 1998, rendering the citizen-initiated constitutional amendment inoperative. In 2006, the Arizona State Legislature again referred a constitutional amendment, Proposition 103, to the ballot.
Path to the ballot
Amending the Idaho Constitution
- See also: Amending the Idaho Constitution
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Idaho State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 47 votes in the Idaho House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Idaho State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
House Joint Resolution 6 (2025)
The following is the timeline of the constitutional amendment in the state legislature:[9]
- March 7, 2025: Reps. Dale Hawkins (R-2B), Kyle Harris (R-7A), and Mike Moyle (R-10A) introduced the constitutional amendment as House Joint Resolution 6 (HJR 6).
- March 12, 2025: The House State Affairs Committee approved HJR 6, advancing the amendment to the full house of representatives.
- March 13, 2025: The Idaho House of Representatives voted 59-8, with three members absent, to approve HJR 6.
- March 21, 2025: The Senate State Affairs Committee approved HJR 6, advancing the amendment to the full State Senate.
- March 25, 2025: The Idaho State Senate voted 30-5, with no members absent, to approve HJR 6 and place the amendment on the ballot.
| Votes Required to Pass: 47 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 59 | 8 | 3 |
| Total % | 84.3% | 11.4% | 4.3% |
| Democratic (D) | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| Republican (R) | 58 | 0 | 3 |
| Votes Required to Pass: 24 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 30 | 5 | 0 |
| Total % | 85.7% | 14.3% | 0.0% |
| Democratic (D) | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Republican (R) | 29 | 1 | 0 |
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Idaho
See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Idaho.
See also
View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Idaho.
Explore Idaho's ballot measure history, including constitutional amendments.
Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Idaho State Legislature, "Senate Bill No. 1172," accessed April 8, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Idaho State Legislature, "House Joint Resolution No. 6," accessed April 17, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division, "Language Minority Citizens, Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act," accessed April 18, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Idaho Capital Sun, "English could become Idaho’s official language, under constitutional amendment," accessed April 18, 2025
- ↑ X, "Dale Hawkins ID," accessed April 18, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Federal Register, "Executive Order 14224," accessed April 8, 2025
- ↑ Federal Register, "Executive Order 13166," accessed April 8, 2025
- ↑ Idaho State Legislature, "House Joint Resolution 6," accessed March 13, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Statutes, "Section 34-1101," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Idaho Secretary of State, "Idaho Voter Registration Form," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Citizenship & Voting," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Idaho Secretary of State - Vote Idaho, "Registering To Vote," accessed July 2, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes § 34-408," accessed June 26, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "2025 Legislation - House Bill 278," accessed June 26, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
