Committee approves Idaho State Historical Society staffing and moving funds; transfers remaining America250 money to a treasurer account

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 24 approved additions to the Idaho State Historical Society budget and moved remaining America250 commemoration funds into a dedicated fund overseen by the treasurer.

The committee voted to add to the FY2026 program maintenance budget three full‑time positions and $744,100 in total for the Historical Society: $506,900 from the general fund, $174,300 from dedicated funds, and $62,900 from federal funds. Committee analysts said the additions include two staff for the Old Idaho State Penitentiary (a store manager and an education specialist), a limited‑service archivist technician ($62,900) to create an online registry of archival holdings, $450,000 for moving state collections into a centralized, climate‑controlled location (a one‑time request), and $90,200 for IT hardware recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services. Christopher Lahoset, the Legislative Services Office analyst, said the move cost was part of a two‑year plan and that the one‑time moving request represents the first portion of a larger anticipated expense.

The Historical Society items passed on a committee vote (14 ayes, 6 nays). During committee discussion Representative Tanner asked whether moving costs had been funded previously for the new facility; analysts confirmed the earlier appropriation covered building costs but not the one‑time moving expense.

Separately, the committee approved actions to reorganize remaining funds previously appropriated for America250. The committee voted to reduce $821,200 from the general fund appropriation to the Historical Society and transfer that balance into the America250 Commemoration Fund under the treasurer. The committee then voted to authorize the State Treasurer to appropriate $821,200 from that fund and to provide re‑appropriation authority for unspent funds. Committee analysts said $1,650,000 had originally been appropriated for America250 and $128,725 had been expended; the remaining balance of about $821,200 is being moved into the treasurer’s America250 account for future oversight by the America250 Commemoration Council. Representative Mitchell moved the transfer; the measure passed unanimously (20 ayes, 0 nays).

Why it matters: The Historical Society’s supplemental and moving requests fund staff and the relocation of archival collections into climate‑controlled space, which agency representatives said is intended to protect state collections. Moving the remaining America250 balance into a fund at the treasurer centralizes oversight under the America250 Commemoration Council as established in House Bill 357.

Votes and outcomes: The FY2026 maintenance budget additions for the Historical Society passed 14–6. The motion reducing $821,200 from the general fund and moving it to the America250 Commemoration Fund passed unanimously (20–0); the treasurer appropriation and re‑appropriation authority also passed unanimously (20–0).

Next steps: The one‑time moving funds are intended to be spent as part of a two‑year plan; lawmakers and staff said they expect continued reporting and oversight as the agency executes the move and the America250 expenditures.

Sources: Presentation and handouts from Christopher Lahoset and Mr. Pree (Legislative Services Office), and roll‑call votes recorded on March 24.