Idaho Legislature – VOTE YES on H0534 - Parent-Student Driver’s Training (Posted: 02/02/26)

• Link: legislature.idaho.gov/s…

• See bill link above for current status and committee assignment

• See Idaho Insider for links where you can send group emails based on current status and committee assignment: gemstatechronicle.com/l…

Summary

Currently parents in Idaho can only teach their children to drive and obtain a driver's license in rural school districts or in urban districts that do not offer a driver's training course. H0534 simply allows parents statewide to teach their children to drive. No fiscal impact to the state.

The change to 49-307. CLASS D DRIVER'S TRAINING INSTRUCTION PERMIT simply strikes the language indicated below:

(6)(a) … Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, students eligible for driver's training pursuant to section 33-1703, Idaho Code, may receive the in-car observation and behind-the-wheel instruction components of a driver's training course from a qualifying parent or legal guardian instead of a licensed instructor only if the parent or legal guardian and the student live in a rural school district as described in section 33-319, Idaho Code, or in a school district that does not offer a driver's training course.

Reason for Recommendation

While professional driving schools might object to this bill, the rest of us – especially those who were taught to drive by our parents (even in big cities) – welcome H0534 wholeheartedly.

If parents are competent to hold a drivers license, they are competent to teach their kids to drive. If parents can teach shoelace tying, street crossing, table manners, woodworking, cooking, and all sorts of other things parents have always taught, they certainly should be able to teach their kids to drive.

Many parents won’t want to teach their kids to drive for a variety of reasons; they may indeed choose driving schools or school drivers’ education. However, ALL parents should have the opportunity to teach driving skills to their kids – wherever they live, without nanny state interference.

Please VOTE YES!

Related

• Idaho Legislature 2026 Bills to Support or Oppose: tinyurl.com/yc2jpkeh