JFAC approves Fish and Game supplemental, adds FY2026 enhancements including $800,000 Idaho Power settlement for Valley Fire rehabilitation

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on a unanimous recommendation approved a $270,000 supplemental appropriation for the Department of Fish and Game to cover costs already expended in 2024 on damage at the Boise River Wildlife Management Area caused by the Valley Fire.

Janet Jessup, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the Valley Fire burned about 9,900 acres and that a settlement between Idaho Power Company and the department will convey $800,000 to the department in fiscal year 2026 to support rehabilitation work.

The committee also approved the department's FY2026 enhancement package. The package funds a range of items the department requested or the governor recommended, including license‑sales system updates, hatchery improvements and trailers, regional office renovations, additional remote connectivity in hatcheries, increased recreational access lease costs, website overhaul phase 2, and the Idaho Power settlement for fire rehabilitation. Committee motions recorded added $11,017,400 from dedicated funds and $7,287,600 from federal funds (total shown in committee materials as approximately $18.305 million) for program maintenance and one‑time items for FY2026.

Jessup said the department's federal funds are primarily reimbursements and federal distributions tied to programs such as Bonneville Power Administration agreements and the Dingell‑Johnson and Pittman‑Robertson excise tax distributions that fund fisheries and wildlife work.

Committee members moved and voted on language allowing reappropriation of funds for ongoing projects (deferred maintenance, Pocatello office remodel, website overhaul) and to make expendable depredation fund balances available for timing of reimbursements. That language passed on a unanimous vote in committee and will be included with the department recommendations.

Votes at a glance: The FY2025 $270,000 supplemental was moved by Senator Woodward and seconded by Representative Manwaring; committee recorded a combined affirmative recommendation with 19 ayes, 0 nays and 1 member absent/excused. The FY2026 enhancement package motion was moved by Senator Woodward, seconded by Representative Manwaring, and passed on a committee recorded split vote (Senate: 7 ayes, 3 nays; House: 8 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused) and will be transmitted with a due‑pass recommendation.

Why it matters: The Idaho Power settlement money specifically targets rehabilitation of habitat damaged by the Valley Fire so that the Boise River Wildlife Management Area can continue to serve wildlife and public access purposes. The enhancements fund both routine and capital needs across hatcheries and regional offices, as well as IT and licensing systems that affect fisheries and hunting license services.

Details and next steps: The settlement payment appears in the FY2026 package as a one‑time dedicated fund appropriation of $800,000. Several enhancement items are one‑time capital requests (region renovations, replacement items, hardware) while others are ongoing operating or personnel adjustments. The reappropriation language allows specified FY2025 appropriations to be used in FY2026 for named projects. The motions will be carried forward to the floors per normal committee procedure.

Attribution: Quotations and committee attributions in this report are drawn from the hearing record. Janet Jessup (Legislative Services) presented the department materials and answered committee questions; Senator Woodward and Representative Manwaring made motions recorded in the transcript.

The committee adjourned the Fish and Game items and moved on to other agency budgets.