Committee deadlocks on $2.5 million ‘Digital Access for All Idahoans’ grant after DEI debate

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 7 considered $2.5 million in federal funding for a “Digital Access for All Idahoans” grant administered by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and repeatedly deadlocked after partisan debate over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) language.

Brooke Dupree, a Legislative Services Office analyst, presented the library budget and noted the commission administers statewide grants and programs for libraries. Representative Gallabis moved the package that included enhancement 51, a $2,500,000 federal grant titled “digital access for all Idahoans,” plus smaller broadband and federal subgrant items. Senator Carlson offered an alternate motion removing the $2.5 million enhancement and advancing only the smaller items; Representative Price seconded Carlson’s substitute.

Senators and representatives debated whether the federal grant includes DEI requirements. Senator Carlson described research he said showed DEI elements and offered the alternate motion to remove the $2.5 million. Senator Cook and Representative Tanner pushed back, saying the Digital Access grant focuses on seniors, veterans, rural residents and language‑access needs and that local library boards decide how funds are spent. “This money is for digital training for our seniors…for devices for your local libraries…[and] cyber security,” Senator Cook said. Representative Tanner and Senator Wintrow both noted they had reviewed the federal documents; Ms. Dupree later confirmed the funding source as the federal Digital Equity Act.

The substitute motion initially produced a divided roll call. After the substitute failed to carry in the House, the committee returned to the original motion. The committee later recorded another roll call on the original library motion; the House again failed to register a majority in the affirmative. The clerk announced that because the House did not record a majority in the affirmative, the original motion failed and “will be taken up at a later date.”

Senator Wintrow said she was distressed by parts of the debate and urged members not to let a search for “labels” stop support for programs that help seniors and people with language barriers access library services. “I’m just not sure what all this searching about labeling is about,” she said. Senator Wintrow added that the grant funds support local projects, literacy help and cybersecurity at libraries and community colleges.

Committee members repeatedly requested the underlying federal funding notice; committee staff said they would follow up with the Digital Equity Act notice. Members also noted the grant can be used over multiple years and that some funds may already be allocated at the local level.