Results of the BSU Public Policy Survey 2025

Dr. Matthew May and Dr. Lantz McGinnis-Brown discuss this year’s Idaho Public Policy Survey.

The tenth annual Idaho Public Policy Survey was conducted November 9-14, 2024 and surveyed 1,000 adults currently living in Idaho. The sample is both geographically and demographically representative of the state’s population, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%. The sample included respondents in 42 of Idaho’s 44 counties. Responses were weighted to ensure representativeness of Idaho’s demographics. The survey covered a wide range of topics, including the economy, taxes, elections, education, housing and healthcare. GS Strategy Group conducted the survey via mobile (38%), landline (11%), online (40%) and SMS (11%).

Key findings

• Idaho residents believe the state is on the right track and is seeing an increase for the first time in six years.
• More Idahoans expect Idaho’s economy to recover for the first time since 2020.
• For the second year in a row, workforce and affordable housing are the top priorities of Idahoans’ overall legislative budget.
• Increasing teacher pay is the top priority in Idaho’s education budget.
• A majority of Idahoans oppose using tax dollars to fund a private or religious school (53%).
• Nearly half of Idahoans (49%) say accessing health care in the state is difficult.
• 39% of Idahoans say increasing the number of immigrants will benefit Idaho’s economy, but that share jumps to 46% when it comes to legal immigrants specifically.
• A majority of Idahoans (55%) believe abortion should be allowed in Idaho through at least the first trimester. A majority (64%) also believe that exemptions for access to abortion should be expanded.
• A majority of Idahoans (51%) have concerns about the security of elections in the United States, but less than a quarter (22%) have concerns about security in Idaho itself.
• A majority of Idahoans are concerned about campaign spending by independent groups in Idaho.