Gov. Brad Little signs Idaho bill criminalizing use of bathrooms that don't match birth sex

Becca Savransky, New York Daily News on Mar 31, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BOISE, Idaho - Gov. Brad Little has signed the Legislature’s anti-transgender bathroom bill into law, making it a crime to use a restroom or changing room that doesn’t align with a person’s sex at birth.

The law, which will apply to government-owned buildings and places of public accommodation, makes it a misdemeanor if someone “knowingly and willfully” uses such a restroom. A second offense within five years would come with a felony charge and up to five years in prison.

The bill carves out a number of exceptions, including for people providing medical assistance or helping law enforcement. It also allows people to use restrooms that don’t match their sex assigned at birth if it is a single-user facility and is the only option available; if a person is in “dire need” and it is the only option reasonably available; or if a parent or guardian is assisting a child or family member.

The bill sailed through the Republican-dominated Legislature with opposition primarily from Democrats. It passed the House 54-15 and the Senate 28-7.

Supporters of the bill have said it is needed to protect women and girls. They argued in previous hearings that it doesn’t target trans people, but rather bars men from using facilities intended for women and girls.

Opponents said the law wasn’t necessary and that it discriminates against transgender people and forces them into unsafe situations, making them criminals for simply being in a restroom matching their gender identity.

After both houses passed the bill, multiple groups urged the governor to veto the legislation. Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates of Idaho said in a statement the bill was “widely considered the most extreme anti-transgender bathroom ban in the nation.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho previously called it “one of the most extreme anti-trans bills in the country.”

The law takes effect July 1.

Idaho has been at the forefront of legislation that targets trans people in recent years. In 2020, the Legislature passed a law barring trans women and girls from participating in women’s and girls sports. A transgender student at Boise State sued, and the case rose to the U.S. Supreme Court, where justices heard arguments in the case earlier this year.

This week, lawmakers passed a bill that would require schools and health care providers to inform a parent within 72 hours if a child requests to take steps to socially transition, which could include using pronouns or a name that doesn’t align with their sex assigned at birth.