Dale Hawkins, Idaho House LD2B

Idaho Education News · April 2026 (archive)

He authored HB 516, a K-12 ban on LGBTQ+ instruction. The Senate gutted it and built a teachers' union restrictions bill around it in a procedural move known as "radiator capping." He defended the maneuver, saying "nothing was done sneakily."
The overhauled bill passed the House 43-24 without an education committee hearing, drawing bipartisan criticism that the public was cut out of the process.

Idaho Capital Sun · March 2026 (archive)

He acknowledged in committee that he had not worked with Idaho law enforcement in drafting HB 660, which was opposed by the Idaho Sheriffs' Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association.
He said the "stakeholders are the people of your districts" rather than the law enforcement officials who would have to implement the mandate.

KTVB · March 2026

Voted no on HB 776, which requires child welfare workers to respond within 12 hours when a newborn's parents have a documented history of abuse or prior termination of parental rights.
The bill was named for 12-day-old Benjamin Lemke of Nampa, who died after his parents had previously lost five children to the state for abuse.
The House passed the bill 49-18; it was signed into law April 2, 2026.

Primary Source
Idaho Legislature - HB 776 roll call
Official House vote record: Hawkins listed in NAYS (49-18-3, March 2026)

Idaho Capital Sun · March 2026 (archive)

HB 659, which he sponsored, would have required every local law enforcement agency to sign a federal ICE enforcement agreement. It passed the House 41-27 over law enforcement opposition citing unfunded training costs.
The bill died in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Idaho Capital Sun · March 2026 (archive)

HB 764, which he sponsored with Heritage Foundation backing, would have made it a crime to help unauthorized immigrants get shelter, financial support, legal assistance, or transportation.
Helping five or more people carried felony charges.
The Idaho Foodbank, attorneys, and the Idaho Sheriffs' Association testified against it.
The House Judiciary Committee held the bill 9-7. He carried the same bill the previous year.

Idaho Capital Sun · February 2026 (archive)

HB 516, which he sponsored as House Education Committee Chairman, passed the House 59-10, removing an age-appropriate exemption from the 2025 Parental Rights Act and creating a total K-12 ban on instruction referencing gender identity or sexual orientation.
The bill was later repurposed in the Senate as a vehicle for teachers' union restrictions.

Spokane Public Radio · February 2026 (archive)

He hosted the Heritage Foundation's announcement of a 2026 immigration bill slate that included the ICE mandate, refugee restrictions, E-Verify requirements, and criminalization of harboring undocumented persons.
The Heritage Foundation's point person, Theo Wold, previously served in the Trump administration and is connected to Project 2025.

Spokane Public Radio · October 2025 (archive)

He has partnered with the Heritage Foundation to craft Idaho immigration bills since 2023. His 2025 slate of three bills (HB 335, HB 382, HB 474) all failed.
The Heritage Foundation representative involved in drafting the bills previously worked in the Trump administration and is a Project 2025 contributor.

Times-News Editorial Board · April 2025 (archive)

Named among 25 Idaho legislators who voted against HB 445, which codified water stewardship agreements and funded aquifer recharge critical to Idaho agriculture.
The Twin Falls Times-News editorial board asked: "It makes us wonder who they're representing."

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