JFAC approves multi-part Idaho Transportation Department funding package, including $84.96M for highway operations and $275M transfer to transportation funds

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a slate of Idaho Transportation Department budget actions Tuesday, approving supplemental and fiscal-year 2026 funding for airport grants, capital facilities, highway operations, public transit and construction projects and authorizing a $275 million general-fund transfer into transportation dedicated funds.

The committee voted to approve ITD’s highway-operations enhancement package — including targeted compensation adjustments, new equipment and public-transit funding — totaling $84,963,600 ( $71,371,600 from dedicated funds and $13,592,000 from federal funds). Senator Woodward moved the highway-operations package; Representative Galaviz seconded the motion. The motion passed after roll call: the Senate voted 6 ayes, 4 nays; the House voted 7 ayes, 3 nays, for a combined total of 13 ayes and 7 nays.

Why it matters: the highway-operations motion funds heavy-equipment replacement (backhoes, loaders), an automated materials module for construction materials testing, a $11.4 million public-transit enhancement to match a supplemental reimbursement request, and a $700,000 highway-safety public-awareness grant. Brooke Dupree, Legislative Services Office analyst, told the committee the replacement-item total is “mainly driven by heavy equipment such as backhoes and loaders and excavators.”

Key elements and committee action - Aeronautics and capital facilities: A motion to provide reappropriation authority and dedicated-fund additions to the Transportation Services Division and aeronautics program was adopted earlier in the hearing. The committee approved reappropriation and dedicated-fund adjustments (motions introduced by Representative Galaviz and later restated by Senator Hart). A substitute by Senator Hart that included a 2-FTP reduction was offered and failed; the original motion passed. (See actions for vote tallies and movers.)

- Public-transit supplemental (FY2025): The committee approved a $5,000,000 supplemental from the State Highway Federal Fund to reimburse local public-transportation jurisdictions for eligible federal obligations. That motion passed unanimously (20–0).

- MPO supplemental (FY2025): The committee approved a $500,000 one-time federal supplemental to reimburse metropolitan planning organizations for federally allowable projects; that vote was unanimous (20–0).

- Capital construction and right-of-way (FY2025 supplemental): The committee approved a $60,000,000 FY2025 supplemental ( $10,000,000 State Highway Local Fund; $50,000,000 State Highway Federal Fund) to provide spending authority for active construction and right-of-way projects. The motion passed (House 9–0–1; Senate unanimous 10–0) for a total 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused.

- FY2026 construction/ROW funding and reappropriation authority: The committee approved a motion for FY2026 contract construction and right-of-way acquisition funding totaling $112,276,000 ( $5,000,000 from dedicated funds and $107,276,000 federal) and provided reappropriation authority not to exceed $300,000,000; the motion passed with Senate 9 ayes, 1 nay; House unanimous 10 ayes, for a total of 19 ayes, 1 nay.

- Large general-fund transfer to dedicated transportation funds: Representative Cook moved — and the committee approved — a transfer of $275,000,000 from the general fund to dedicated transportation funds ( $165,000,000 to the Strategic Initiatives Program dedicated fund; $110,000,000 to the Local Highway Distribution Fund) to be distributed at the start of the fiscal year. Senator Hart offered a substitute motion to transfer $150,000,000 instead; that substitute failed. The original transfer passed in committee (Senate 8 ayes, 2 nays; House 10 ayes, 0 nays), for a total of 18 ayes, 2 nays.

Analyst clarifications and limits - Dupree emphasized that one motion did not include funding to relocate the District 4 headquarters; the renovation money for the State Street headquarters was funded instead. She said, “this motion does not include the funding to relocate the district 4 head quarters and instead appropriates that requested funding for the renovations needed in the State Street headquarters.” - Several items were reappropriation authorities (spending authorities) rather than immediate cash transfers; committee members noted that reappropriation allows ITD to spend previously obtained cash when projects move forward.

Committee direction and language - The committee adopted bill language directing at least $13,200,000 to design and construct a road-widening project on a town-center arterial with annual average daily traffic in excess of 20,000. - The committee also adopted language directing at least $50,000,000 for widening a residential-mobility arterial that connects a state highway to a U.S. highway (example discussed included Linder Road in the Boise area); analysts said residential-mobility arterials are classified by highway district.

Outlook ITD’s FY2026 package the committee approved contains a mix of ongoing and one-time appropriations, vehicle and equipment replacement, IT hardware, and grants. Several committee members said the package reflects compromises among work-group members. Some members pressed for continued review of long-term maintenance funding and whether the state should rely on general fund transfers to support transportation needs.

Votes at a glance (selected motions) - FY2026 Highway Operations package (Woodward/Galaviz): Passed, total 13 ayes, 7 nays. - FY2025 Public-Transit supplemental $5,000,000 (Woodward/Gallavese): Passed unanimously, 20–0. - FY2025 MPO supplemental $500,000 (Furness): Passed unanimously, 20–0. - FY2025 Capital construction/R.O.W. supplemental $60,000,000 (Handy): Passed, 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused. - FY2026 construction/ROW funding and reappropriation authority $112,276,000 (Cook): Passed, 19 ayes, 1 nay. - Transfer $275,000,000 general fund to dedicated transportation funds (Cook): Passed, 18 ayes, 2 nays.

The committee will forward these actions with due-pass recommendations to the full legislature according to the committee clerk’s announcement.