JFAC advances Department of Fish and Game FY2026 package with due-pass recommendation

The Joint Finance Appropriations Committee voted to give a due-pass recommendation to the Department of Fish and Game fiscal year 2026 budget package, approving $10,217,400 from dedicated funds and $7,967,500 from federal funds for a total of $18,184,900.

The vote follows an overview from Janet Jessup, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, who outlined the department’s five programs and a series of enhancements including hatchery improvements, regional office renovations, IT hardware and an agency website overhaul. “Of the all the enhancements that were requested by the agency, approximately 16,000,000 of the million dollars of that enhancement was 1 time in nature,” Jessup said.

The motion, moved by Representative Manmuring and seconded by Senator Hart, bundled multiple one-time and ongoing requests: one-time replacements and renovations, seasonal employee support for habitat restoration, upgrades to hatchery trailer tanks and regional offices, $500,000 for a lease at the McCall regional office and IT hardware and license purchases. The motion text before the committee totaled $18,184,900 across dedicated and federal sources.

Committee discussion included a clarification that the Department of Fish and Game does not receive general fund appropriations and that most of the enhancement dollars were one-time. The committee adopted two pieces of reappropriation language associated with the motion; committee staff explained one piece allows the agency to reappropriate project funds into the next fiscal year and the second relates to depredation funds that may span fiscal years.

Roll-call tallies announced on the record were: Senate — 9 ayes, 1 nay; House — 7 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent/excused; grand total — 16 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent/excused. The chairman announced: “Majority having voted in the affirmative, this motion will go forward with a due pass recommendation.”

The committee also adopted the reappropriation language by roll call (unanimous in the Senate; recorded as 9–0 in the Senate and 9–0 in the House on that language as presented), and the language will be attached to the motion as noted by staff.

The committee will forward the due-pass recommendation to its respective chambers for further consideration.

Details on the specific one-time and ongoing line items are recorded in the committee packet and listed in the motion adopted on the record.