Joint finance committee approves multiple FY2026 budget items, adopts language directives

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted March 20 to approve a slate of supplemental appropriations, FY2026 enhancements and bill language for several state agencies, advancing the measures to carry "due pass" recommendations to the legislature.

The committee approved motions covering the Idaho State Liquor Division, Department of Finance, Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), Idaho Commission for Libraries, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Fish and Game and others. Several motions included statutory or reporting language requiring agencies to submit status reports to the committee by specified dates.

Why it matters: The votes set funding levels and reporting requirements that will guide agency operations in FY2026 and, in some cases, require the agencies to deliver reports to the committee to justify continued funding or explain program impacts.

Key outcomes at a glance (motion summaries and final tallies):

- Idaho State Liquor Division: Committee approved an additional $644,400 from dedicated funds to fund selected FY2026 enhancements (pay increase for part-time retail staff, shrink-wrap, web accessibility work, selected replacement items and ITS hardware). Motion by Senator Carlson; second by Representative Tanner. Final combined committee tally: 15 ayes, 4 nays, 1 absent excused. Outcome: approved (due pass recommendation).

- Department of Finance: Committee approved adding 4 full-time equivalent positions (FTP) and $642,800 from dedicated funds for financial examiners and related IT hardware. Motion carried with a combined tally of 15 ayes, 5 nays, 0 absent excused. Outcome: approved.

- Idaho Transportation Department technical correction: Two maintenance-division fund corrections (net zero) and associated transfers passed unanimously (20 ayes, 0 nays). Outcome: approved.

- Office of Energy & Mineral Resources language (Speed Council report): Committee accepted language requiring OEMR to report on use of funds, measurable actions and planned/completed projects for the Speed Council by Dec. 1, 2025; motion adopted by unanimous consent. Outcome: language ordered.

- Department of Labor — E-Verify and immigration/labor market report language: Committee adopted intent language directing the Department of Labor to report on the costs and benefits of using E-Verify and on the impact of illegal immigration on the state labor market; final tally 17 ayes, 3 nays, 0 absent excused. Outcome: language adopted (report due Dec. 15, 2025).

- Department of Labor — disability determination services report language: Committee adopted language requiring a report comparing administering disability determination services at state level versus federal level; final tally 18 ayes, 2 nays, 0 absent excused. Outcome: language adopted.

- Idaho Commission for Libraries: After a substitute motion failed, the committee adopted funding and several language provisions including (a) $42,300 (general fund) for broadband reimbursement, (b) federal funding for the Digital Access for All Idahoans grant ($2.54 million federal in the adopted motion), (c) ARPA re-appropriation language for telehealth facilities, (d) reporting and restrictions on use of state funds regarding diversity/equity/inclusion ideology in library-sponsored activities, and (e) coordination and reporting requirements tied to Idaho Code; outcomes varied by item but the main funding motion carried with a combined tally of 17 ayes, 3 nays on the final (original) motion to fund. Several separate language items carried in later votes (some unanimous, some split). Outcome: funding and multiple language directives adopted.

- Office of Information Technology Services (ITS): The committee approved the agency's FY2026 enhancement package largely on the agency request rather than the governor's alternate funding structure. The motion authorized additional office space funding, enterprise security purchases, emergency connectivity network items, IT infrastructure and architecture work, ServiceNow project management tooling, 22 FTP to support consolidation work (Idaho State Police and Department of Juvenile Corrections transfers), and additional ITS hardware. Final combined tally: 14 ayes, 5 nays, 1 absent excused. Outcome: approved.

- Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): The committee approved targeted pay to address turnover, a transfer from the Water Pollution Control Fund to the Environmental Remediation Fund, funding for Triumph Mine remediation, ARPA State Fiscal Recovery reimbursements for infrastructure grantees, and a general-fund transfer for drinking-water and wastewater grants. Final combined tally: 16 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent excused. Outcome: approved.

- Department of Fish and Game: Two actions related to wildfire damage and restoration in the Boise River Wildlife Management Area passed. A FY2025 supplemental of $270,000 from the Fish and Game expendable trust was approved to replace earlier internal expenditures; a separate FY2026 one-time appropriation of $800,000 from the Fish and Game expendable trust tied to a settlement and restoration efforts was also approved. Both passed with affirmative committee votes (supplemental 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent excused; the $800,000 motion passed with committees in the affirmative and carried as a due-pass recommendation).

A number of the adopted items also included specific reporting deadlines (for example, many reports due to JFAC or LSO by Dec. 1, 2025, or Dec. 15, 2025). Several motions were adopted by unanimous consent; others were approved on recorded roll calls noted above.

Ending: The committee adjourned after completing the day's agenda and scheduling follow-up workgroups for remaining education and economic-development items.