JFAC advances Idaho Fish and Game FY2026 enhancements totaling $18.2 million

Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Janet Jessup. I'm a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services Office," Janet Jessup said as she opened the agency presentation. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) voted to give the Department of Fish and Game a due-pass recommendation on a FY2026 enhancement package totaling $18,184,900.

The package approved by the committee combined $10,217,400 from dedicated funds and $7,967,500 in federal funds and included both ongoing and one-time items. Jessup told the committee the agency requested enhancements across five programs — administration, enforcement, fisheries, wildlife and communications — and that about $16 million of the requested enhancements were one-time in nature.

The approved enhancements as moved by Representative Manmuring and seconded by Senator Hart include: increased contract costs for license operations, $2,160,000 one-time for the Albany Falls project, $550,000 one-time for phase two of an agency website overhaul, funding for seasonal staff to restore mitigation stewardship habitat, $216,500 one-time for hatchery fish trailer tanks, $3,626,700 one-time for Region 7 renovations, regional office operations and lease costs (including a $500,000 lease for the McCall regional office), hatchery and regional office improvements and IT/hardware and software items. Jessup summarized the motion: "I move for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Fish and Game an additional $10,217,400 from dedicated funds and $7,967,500 from federal funds for a total of $18,184,900."

The committee recorded roll-call votes on the motion and on two pieces of reappropriation language that would allow the agency to carry project and depredation funds into the next fiscal year. After the roll calls the committee clerk reported a grand total of 16 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent and excused; the committee chair then announced the motion will go forward with a due-pass recommendation.

Committee members noted that most of the funding was one-time and that the department does not receive general fund appropriations. The reappropriation language that accompanies the motion will require roll-call votes; committee staff explained the language is intended to allow the department to finish multi-year projects and to carry depredation funds into the next fiscal year.

The committee forwarded the budget with the attached language and voted the motion out of committee with the due-pass recommendation. The committee did not adopt any amendments to the enhancement list during the hearing.

The department's handout listing 19 state-managed fish hatcheries and a statewide hatchery map were provided to committee members and posted to the committee's SharePoint for follow-up reference. Ending: The measure now proceeds with the committee's due-pass recommendation and the reappropriation language attached.