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JFAC approves Department of Labor budget adjustments; proposed reporting language on immigration and disability services fails in House
Summary
The committee approved interfund shifts for the Department of Labor’s FY2026 request to align appropriations with expected federal grant changes, but two pieces of requested intent language — a report on illegal immigration’s labor-market impact and a review of disability determination costs — failed to gain House approval.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a net $161,000 increase for the Department of Labor for FY2026 by shifting $5,000,000 into the Employment Security Special Administration Fund while reducing approximately $4,839,000 in federal funds and 15.58 full-time positions across federal programs.
"This adjustment contains an increase of $1,250,000 ... a net reduction of $725,000 and 15 FTP in the determinations program," Senator Cook explained when moving the motion. Brooke Dupree, the Legislative Services Office analyst for the department, told the panel the state expects lower federal grant awards because of recent low unemployment figures and that the dedicated fund will be used to stabilize operations.
The motion to adopt the FY2026 adjustments passed on a committee tally of 14 yes and 5 no and was returned with a due-pass recommendation.
Separately, the committee considered two non‑appropriation language items asking the Department of Labor to (1) report on the impact of illegal immigration on Idaho’s labor market and (2) analyze costs of administering disability-determination services at the state versus federal level. Supporters said the reports would provide data for future policy decisions; opponents argued the committee was directing executive-branch activity without allocating resources and that disability determinations are governed by federal law and stakeholder consultation.
Senator Cook and Representative Tanner offered the language. The Senate recorded 8 yes and 2 no; the House recorded 4 yes, 5 no and 1 absent, so the language failed in committee and will be provided to the House for further consideration.
