Senate panel moves Bible bill forward

BOISE — The Senate State Affairs Committee on Friday sent a bill to the 14th order for amendments that would codify the legality of Bible references in Idaho public schools.

Senate bill 1342, sponsored by Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, would spell out a right already legal in Idaho to reference the Bible in public schools. The bill would not require students to use religious texts for reference purposes if they or their parents objected.

“Everyone should have the right to believe what they want to believe,” Nuxoll said. “This is not mandating anything.”

The bill passed the Senate Education Committee last week with opposition from Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, who questioned whether the bill would spark a need for other bills to be drafted that codify the legality of referencing other religious texts.

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