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Digital Access for All grant sparks partisan debate; JFAC does not approve $2.5 million request during session
Summary
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee debated a $2.5 million "Digital Access for All" grant for libraries on March 7 and split along partisan lines over whether the funding included DEI priorities; neither the amendment to remove the grant nor the original package carried a House majority, so the committee did not approve the grant.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 7 debated a $2.5 million grant titled “Digital Access for All,” administered through the Idaho Commission for Libraries, with members sharply divided over whether the funding advances diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) priorities.
Brooke Dupree, a Legislative Services Office analyst, introduced the Commission for Libraries’ budget and explained the $2,500,000 line was for a Digital Access for All grant. Senator Carlson offered a motion that would limit funding to $82,400 and remove the $2.5 million grant; he said the larger grant funded “more DEI and the legislature has taken a stand against DEI programs.”
Opponents of stripping the money, including Senator Cook and Representative Tanner, said the federal grant targets digital training for seniors, veterans and rural residents and funds devices, large‑print materials and cybersecurity support in local libraries. Representative Tanner said the grant included assistance for older adults and people with language barriers and stressed local library boards decide how federal funds are used. Mr. Pree, a Commerce or budget staff member, told the committee the funding is provided under the federal Digital Equity Act.
The committee recorded separate roll calls on a substitute motion (to restrict or strip the $2.5 million) and on the original motion that would have adopted the Commission for Libraries package including the $2.5 million grant. On both votes the Senate and the House split: the Senate recorded 6 ayes and 4 nays; the House recorded 5 ayes and 5 nays, and the committee chair concluded the motions failed because they did not carry a majority in the House. The transcript shows the chair planned to revisit these items at a later date.
Senator Wintrow asked for the specific federal notice of funding; staff said they would follow up by sending the federal notice of funding and identified the program as the Digital Equity Act. Supporters said the grant is in its second year with up to five years of funding available and that money already awarded to local libraries has been planned for multi‑year digital programs.
Because the motions did not obtain the necessary majority in both chambers of the joint committee, the committee did not approve the $2.5 million Digital Access for All grant on March 7 and the item was to be taken up again at a later meeting.
