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
▶ Show statement of purpose▼ Hide statement of purpose
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
FISCAL NOTE
▶ Show fiscal note▼ Hide fiscal note
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
▶ Show full bill text▼ Hide full bill text
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 784 BY EDUCATION 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 school dis-12 trict, specially charted district, and public charter school shall provide13 to students in kindergarten through grade 5 a period of daily recess out-14 doors, guaranteeing every student time to move, play, and grow. Such recess15 period shall occur daily and outdoors and shall be for not less than twenty16 (20) minutes, weather and scheduling permitting. If weather does not permit17 students to be outdoors, then daily recess shall be accommodated indoors,18 such as in a gymnasium. Daily recess provided pursuant to this section shall19 not be withheld for any disciplinary purposes.20 (2) Each school district, specially charted district, and public char-21 ter school is encouraged to provide to students in grades 6 through 8 daily22 unstructured activity breaks.23
SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby24 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after25 July 1, 2026.26
LATEST ACTION
Reported Printed and Referred to Education
BILL INFO
- Session
- 2026
- Chamber
- house
- Status date
- Feb 26, 2026
RELATED BILLS
More by Jordan Redman
Similar bills
