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JFAC approves ITS FY2026 modernization package, adds 22 positions
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved the Office of Information Technology Services' FY2026 enhancements including infrastructure purchases, ServiceNow project management tooling and 22 full-time positions to support agency consolidations.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 20 approved the Office of Information Technology Services' FY2026 enhancement package, which includes funding for office space, enterprise security, emergency connectivity hardware, IT infrastructure and a 22 full-time equivalent position addition to support consolidation work.
The motion, offered in the committee meeting and seconded, followed discussion distinguishing the agency's original request from the governor's recommendation. Committee members agreed to fund the agency request rather than channeling money through a newly proposed cyber security and IT resilience fund that had outstanding questions in House Appropriations.
Why it matters: ITS is the central IT management agency for many executive-branch departments and is responsible for statewide IT policy, cybersecurity and for consolidating IT staff from other agencies as part of the Idaho IT Modernization Initiative. Funding and new positions will support statewide security improvements, backups to mitigate ransomware risk, infrastructure modernization and the consolidation of personnel previously belonging to Idaho State Police and the Department of Juvenile Corrections.
Key elements approved:
- Office space funding to house ITS employees in Buildings 6 and 8. - Enterprise security hardware and software to strengthen backup and ransomware defenses. - Emergency connectivity network hardware and software. - IT infrastructure purchases for equipment sourcing, F5 consolidation for web application monitoring, and phone-system conversions. - Funding for ServiceNow project management software. - 22 FTP and related funding to consolidate IT staff from Idaho State Police and the Department of Juvenile Corrections into ITS. - Additional ITS hardware replacement items.
Committee discussion and rationale: Christopher LaHosat, a Legislative Services budget analyst, explained that the governor had proposed an alternative funding mechanism — a cybersecurity and IT resilience fund — but questions about that fund's structure led the committee to approve ITS's agency-requested items directly for FY2026.
Roll call and next steps: The committee approved the agency-requested enhancements (combined committee tally: 14 ayes, 5 nays, 1 absent excused). ITS and the Division of Financial Management were directed by accompanying language to prepare a report on cost efficiencies related to IT equipment and services, with recommendations due to JFAC and LSO by Dec. 1, 2025.
Ending: The ITS package advances with a due-pass recommendation to the legislature; ITS will initiate procurement and onboarding for the approved positions and hardware replacements.
