‘Surprised’: Idaho lawmaker says bill questioned by other Republicans is dead
A bill to remove funding from the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs is dead, according to its sponsor, Rep. Jeff Ehlers.
The commission, which was established by statute in 1987 and serves as a bridge between the government and the state’s growing Latino population, has now survived two attempts to defund or eliminate it.
In January, lawmakers rejected draft legislation that would have eliminated the commission.
Ehlers’ bill, a recommendation from the Legislature’s Elon Musk-styled DOGE task force, would have removed $80,000 in funding starting in 2028.
“I was somewhat surprised,” Ehlers, R-Meridian, told the Idaho Statesman on Monday. “It’s not going anywhere this session.”
When Ehlers proposed the bill, House Revenue and Taxation committee members questioned the concept, even as they voted on party lines to introduce it.
“Did the Hispanic commission do something wrong?” Rep. John Shirts, R-Weiser, asked at the time. “I’m trying to figure out why are we here, why are we doing this?”
The commission had backing from the top: Gov. Brad Little previously told reporters he would not support defunding or eliminating the commission.
In 2025, after longtime commission director Margie Gonzalez retired, Little put his press secretary in charge in the interim, the Idaho Press previously reported. He later appointed Annette Valenzuela Tipton, a Republican who previously ran for the Legislature.
“We’re pleased with the decision and we’ll continue monitoring things until the end of session,” Tipton said in a phone interview Monday.
Latino Idahoans make up 14% of the state’s population.
This story was originally published March 16, 2026 at 1:23 PM.
