LC State Name Change Bill Fails to Receive House Hearing

Despite unanimous Senate support, the proposal to rename Lewis-Clark State College will not move forward this legislative session.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:42pm

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A dimly lit, empty college classroom with warm sunlight streaming through the windows, creating deep shadows and a nostalgic, cinematic mood, conceptually representing the setback in Lewis-Clark State College's name change proposal.The quiet halls of Lewis-Clark State College reflect the disappointment over the stalled effort to update the school's name and public perception.Boise Today

A bill to change the name of Lewis-Clark State College to Lewis-Clark State University received unanimous support in the Idaho Senate, but did not receive a hearing in the Idaho House and will not be able to move forward this session, school administrators announced. The name change proposal had received widespread campus and community support, but the House Education Committee did not take up the bill.

Why it matters

The proposed name change is aimed at dispelling the persistent misunderstanding that LC State is a community college, rather than a four-year public university. This confusion has led some Idaho high school and transfer students to overlook LC State's taxpayer-funded bachelor's and graduate programs, instead going online or out-of-state for these degrees.

The details

Senate Bill 1234, the name change proposal, received a unanimous 'Do Pass' recommendation in the Senate Education Committee and was approved by the full Senate in a 34-0-1 vote. It also had the support of the State Board of Education and numerous community and education leaders. However, the bill remained in the House Education Committee 'drawer' and did not receive a hearing.

  • On Feb. 4, the name change proposal received a unanimous 'Do Pass' recommendation in the Senate Education Committee.
  • On Feb. 9, the Senate approved the bill in a 34-0-1 vote.

The players

Lewis-Clark State College

A four-year public university in Idaho, currently known as Lewis-Clark State College.

Cynthia Pemberton

The president of Lewis-Clark State College.

Idaho Senate

The upper chamber of the Idaho state legislature, which unanimously supported the name change proposal.

Idaho House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the Idaho state legislature, which did not take up the name change bill for a hearing.

Idaho State Board of Education

The governing body that oversees public education in Idaho, including Lewis-Clark State College, and supported the name change proposal.

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What they’re saying

“We are incredibly grateful for the strong support our name change proposal and bill received. Despite our best efforts, the bill remained in the House Education Committee 'drawer.' While this outcome is disappointing, our advocacy journey gave us the opportunity to connect with legislators, stakeholders, and community members locally, regionally, and across the state — sharing LC State's value proposition and the purpose and vision behind the proposal.”

— Cynthia Pemberton, President, Lewis-Clark State College

What’s next

The name change proposal will be brought back for consideration in the next legislative session.

The takeaway

This setback highlights the challenges public universities can face in updating their names and branding, even when there is broad support for the change. The persistent misunderstanding about LC State's status as a four-year institution will continue to impact student enrollment and the school's ability to serve Idaho's workforce needs.