Idaho House passes bill to nullify local LGBTQ+ protections

The Idaho House of Representatives approved legislation Thursday that would strip 13 cities of their ability to enforce local anti-discrimination ordinances protecting LGBTQ+ residents. House Bill 557, titled the "Uniformity in Local Antidiscrimination Ordinances Act," passed in a 53-16 vote and now heads to the State Senate for consideration.

If passed, the bill would prohibit cities and counties from enforcing civil rights protections that exceed those recognized under state law. Because Idaho’s state-level Human Rights Act does not currently include sexual orientation or gender identity as protected classes, the move would effectively nullify existing local protections across the state.