Idaho
Statehouse roundup, 1.13.25: Idaho is a model for funding charter facilities, a national adviser says
Idaho’s charter school facilities funding model is a “success story” that other states should follow, a policy adviser for a national school choice advocacy group told lawmakers Monday.
In 2023, the Legislature passed two bills that helped charters obtain short- and long-term financing for facilities. One bill created a $50 million revolving loan fund to jumpstart newer charters, while the other offered state-backed credit enhancement to established charters, lowering their interest rates on bonds.
These financing tools cost the state nothing on an ongoing basis and they’ve saved $113 million, Matthew Joseph, senior policy adviser at ExcelinEd, told the House Education Committee.
“It means that every charter school in Idaho is able to reinvest the money … into instruction,” Joseph said. “… I work in states all over the country that are not nearly as advanced as Idaho is.”
Unlike traditional public school districts, Idaho’s charter schools can’t levy taxes on patrons to raise funds for facilities. Instead, they leverage state facilities dollars along with bonds and private donations to finance capital projects.

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On top of the financing tools, the state gives charters a per-student allocation for facilities costs. The per-student amount decreased, from $400 to $300, with last year’s House Bill 521, the sweeping facilities funding bill that directed $1.5 billion to traditional districts.
Charter advocates are preparing to introduce a proposal restoring these funds. Blake Youde, a lobbyist for the Idaho Charter School Network, told the House Education Committee that HB 521 eliminated about $3 million in state lottery funds for charters.
“I anticipate that we will be trying to work with you to make charter schools whole again,” Youde said.
Traditional districts lost lottery funding to the tune of $29 million. The Idaho School Boards Association also called for restoring these funds, which traditional districts used for routine maintenance costs and staff salaries.
‘Unfinished work:’ Liebich makes pitch for second State Board term
Kurt Liebich was first appointed to the State Board of Education in February 2020 — weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools across the state and the nation.
“When I signed up five years ago, what I was getting into was not at all what I thought I was getting into,” Liebich said Monday.
On Monday afternoon, the Boise businessman was back before the Senate Education Committee, seeking confirmation to a second five-year State Board term.
Liebich said he decided to seek a second term to focus on “unfinished work,” especially in K-3 literacy, middle school math and preparing high school graduates for college or career.
“Within K-12 you’ve made massive investments in education,” Liebich said. “We could and we should get a return on the investment.”
State Board of Education member Kurt LiebichOver the past five years, Idaho’s K-12 budget has increased by nearly 40%.
The committee took no action on Liebich’s appointment. The committee will likely vote later this week, said Senate Education Chairman Dave Lent, R-Idaho Falls.
The nomination will then go to the full Senate.
At least two other State Board nominations are likely to go through Senate Education.
Idaho
Local woman having ‘closet revival’ with new consignment store – East Idaho News
Shanea Fulks is the owner of Seven Sisters Closet Revival, a new consignment store at 260 South Woodruff in Idaho Falls. Take a look inside in the video above. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com
Do you want to know what’s happening in the eastern Idaho business scene? We’ve got you covered. Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley.
BIZ BUZZ
IDAHO FALLS
New consignment shop in Idaho Falls offers vintage clothes for customers and booth space for sellers
IDAHO FALLS – Curating vintage clothing is Shanea Fulks’s passion, and she’s sharing it with the community through a new business venture.
Seven Sisters Closet Revival opens Saturday at 260 South Woodruff inside Parkwood Plaza in Idaho Falls. It offers racks of vintage clothes for customers and booth space for others to sell their items.
“You get a rack with shelves, and you can come in throughout the week and sell things,” Fulks tells EastIdahoNews.com. “The things you’ll see in the middle of the store are pieces that I have curated. I hand-pick all the things I bring to the store.”
See some of the items in the video above.
Fulks says she’s had multiple people walk in already who are excited about the shop.
The store will have a grand opening this weekend. Fulks is partnering with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting and open house at noon on Friday. A local band will be performing during the event.
Then on Saturday, a grand opening celebration will begin at 2 p.m. Several vendors and live entertainment will be available. Fulks says she’s looking forward to interacting with the community.
Fulks has been selling items from her personal collection online for years. After helping a mother and daughter find a formal dress during an interaction at another shop in town several years ago, Fulks says she realized there was a need for a store like this.
After about a year of working with real estate agents, Fulks says the Parkwood Plaza space formerly occupied by a beauty salon called Blush became available, and it was an ideal fit.
“It’s just been a whirlwind and we’re just trying to get it going,” says Fulks.
Fulks’ interest in fashion stems back to childhood. She lost her dad and stepdad to suicide at a young age and grew up in a household that struggled to make ends meet. As a result, she says they bought clothes at Goodwill and other secondhand stores.
She remembers being made fun of because of the clothes she wore. In time, she learned to embrace her uniqueness and developed an interest in vintage clothes.
“I’ve just always been attracted to old sweaters, military jackets (her dad served in Vietnam),” Fulks says. “I like to help people feel confident wearing something unique, even if it’s not trendy. Be bold and wear whatever you want.”
The idea of making the most of your circumstances and embracing who you are is inspired by her experience with suicide, and it’s reflected in the art that’s on display in her store.
“Part of the theme in my store is ‘Stay. We need you,’” she says.
The business name refers to her family. She comes from a blended family of six girls and four boys. When she and her husband were married, they had a daughter — the seventh sister.
Fulks says she’s looking forward to offering great deals to customers. She has two sons with autism who love art, and she wants to host art-themed events for people with special needs. She’d also like to host tea parties and other events in the future.
“I want people to come and feel like they belong,” she says. “I’m going to allow people to do karaoke. When you’re here, I want you to feel like you can have fun.”
Seven Sisters Closet Revival will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
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New surgeon at Idaho Falls clinic does oral, jaw and facial work
Elsie’s Closet in downtown Idaho Falls is a ‘whole vibe’ and tells a story
Pocatello-based transportation company acquires competitor Yellowstone Transportation
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Idaho
Gov. Little signs bill ending license plate registration stickers in Idaho
Gov. Brad Little has signed House Bill 533, which would remove the need for license plate stickers on Idaho vehicles.
The legislation, introduced earlier this session by Rep. Jon Weber (R) of Boise, eliminates the requirement for registration stickers on Idaho license plates. Weber stated during the bills intorduction that officers can verify the status of license plates without the stickers, potentially saving the state around $300,000.
During the bill’s introduction, some lawmakers argued that it could increase the workload for law enforcement.
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The new law is set to take effect in July.
Idaho
Idaho resolution opposing same-sex marriage advances
For the second year in a row, House lawmakers will consider urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.
The nonbinding resolution, which carries no legal weight, says the decision in Obergefel v. Hodges violates the longstanding religious definition of marriage between one man and one woman.
“The current definition of marriage that allows for same-sex marriages is a defilement of the word marriage,” said Rep. Tony Wisniewski (R-Post Falls), who sponsors the measure.
The resolution further states that the Obergefel decision “arbitrarily and unjustly” rejects the historical definition of marriage.
Idaho voters passed a constitution amendment in 2006 that defines marriage as between one man and one woman, which was invalidated by the Obergefel ruling.
Wisniewski said regulating marriages should be a power left to the states.
Rep. Brent Crane (R-Nampa) agrees.
“If you want to get things … closer to the people with respect to some of these more complex social issues, I think the best place for those things to happen is in the states,” Crane said.
Doing so is a risk, he said.
“You may have states that choose to acknowledge [polyamorous relationships]. You may have states that choose to have relationships between adults and younger children,” Crane said.
Cities in neighboring Oregon and Washington, for example, are considering giving those in polyamorous relationships legal recognition.
But he said that risk is worth it to allow other states that choose to only recognize traditional marriages.
Four lawmakers on the House State Affairs Committee opposed the resolution.
Rep. Erin Bingham (R-Idaho Falls) said she’s tried to balance her own religious beliefs with those of others while considering the measure.
“I do feel like that it is important for us to work together, to find ways to compromise and to live together in peace and mutual respect,” Bingham said.
The resolution now goes to the House floor for consideration.
House lawmakers last year passed a similar measure, but it never received a hearing in a Senate committee.
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