The ACLU of Idaho works with members of the state legislature, state agencies and commissions, and the Governor’s office and executive branch to advocate for legislation that will protect and strengthen our civil liberties. We lobby policymakers, analyze proposed bills, draft and present testimony, collaboratively strategize with coalition partners, and work to build grassroots community power for legislative reform.
Among many other civil liberty issues, our legislative work includes criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, immigrant rights, disability rights, privacy, religious freedom, and free speech.
The 2024 Idaho legislative session was fraught: Lawmakers battled over policy, politics, and party allegiance, often in full public view. The increased tension shaped our legislative advocacy efforts, as did a marked departure from democratic processes and norms in the legislature.