Age of Consent
Sex Education Required by State
Sex Education Type
Medically Accurate Content Required
LGBTQ+ Inclusive
Consent Education Taught
Adult Entertainment
Idaho's age of consent is 18. There is no close-in-age exemption in Idaho law. Sexual activity with a person under 18 is a felony regardless of the age of the defendant, under Idaho Code Section 18-1508. The absence of an exemption is a notable feature of Idaho law that affects young couples in their late teens.
Idaho has no statewide sex education mandate. When districts choose to offer it, instruction is expected to be abstinence-focused. There is no requirement for medical accuracy, no LGBTQ+ inclusion requirement, and no consent education mandate. The state's strong social conservative influence means that most districts offering sex ed do so within a narrow, abstinence-only framework. Many districts opt out of offering sex ed entirely.
Idaho's adult entertainment environment is restrictive. Adult businesses are subject to aggressive local zoning in most jurisdictions. Cities like Boise have enacted ordinances limiting where and how adult businesses can operate. Idaho has been among the states pursuing legislation targeting online adult content, including age verification requirements.
Age 18. No sex ed mandate — very conservative. Abstinence-only when offered. Strong social conservative influence.
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In the News
- Supreme Court Backs Parental Rights in Gender Identity Case - MultiStateApr 28
- War on Women Report: Georgia Woman Arrested for Self-Managed Abortion; Idaho Forces Teachers to Out Trans Youth; Ohio Bill to Force Doctors to Report Pregnancies to the State - Ms. MagazineMar 31
- Committee holds bill seeking to ban gender identity - The Lewiston TribuneMar 10
- The Debate Over Sex Education and Its Consequences - Gonzaga UniversityJul 17
- Minors’ Ability to Consent to Contraception and Abortion Services - KFFAug 7
Full Idaho profile
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Sources: NCSL, Guttmacher Institute, SIECUS State Profiles, Wikipedia "Ages of consent in the United States". Laws change — verify current status with official sources.