Adds to existing law to require public schools to offer daily recess to students in kindergarten through grade 5 and to encourage public schools to offer unstructured activity breaks for students in grades 6 through 8.
EDUCATION -- Adds to existing law to require public schools to offer daily recess to students in kindergarten through grade 5 and to encourage public schools to offer unstructured activity breaks for students in grades 6 through 8.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
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RS33724 / H0915 This legislation adds a new section of code to require public schools to provide daily recess for students in kindergarten through grade five and encourage schools to provide unstructured activity breaks for students in grades six through eight. This aligns with extensive evidence that recess is not a luxury but a necessary component of healthy child development including boosting learning, behavior, health and happiness. This legislation also provides that recess cannot be withheld from an entire class as a form of discipline.
FISCAL NOTE
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This legislation causes no additional expenditure of funds at the state or local level of government, nor does it cause an increase or decrease in revenue for state or local government therefore the legislation has no fiscal impact.
BILL TEXT
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LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 915 BY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO EDUCATION; AMENDING CHAPTER 16, TITLE 33, IDAHO CODE, BY THE2 ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 33-1639, IDAHO CODE, TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS3 TO PROVIDE DAILY RECESS FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE FIVE4 AND TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE UNSTRUCTURED ACTIVITY BREAKS FOR5 STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX THROUGH EIGHT; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND6 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.7
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:8
SECTION 1. That Chapter 16, Title 33, Idaho Code, be, and the same is9 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-10 ignated as Section 33-1639, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:11 33-1639. DAILY RECESS AND UNSTRUCTURED ACTIVITY. (1) Each school12 district, specially chartered district, and public charter school shall13 provide to students in kindergarten through grade 5 a period of daily recess14 outdoors, guaranteeing every student time to move, play, and grow. At least15 one (1) recess period shall occur daily and outdoors and shall be for not less16 than twenty (20) minutes, weather and scheduling permitting. If weather17 does not permit students to be outdoors, then daily recess shall be accom-18 modated indoors, such as in a gymnasium. Daily recess provided pursuant to19 this section shall not be withheld from an entire class for disciplinary20 purposes.21 (2) Each school district, specially chartered district, and public22 charter school is encouraged to provide to students in grades 6 through 823 daily unstructured activity breaks.24
SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby25 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after26 July 1, 2026.27
LATEST ACTION
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
BILL INFO
- Session
- 2026
- Chamber
- house
- Status date
- Mar 17, 2026
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