JFAC approves multiple behavioral-health supplementals, authorizes transfer exemptions for mental-health budgets

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Friday approved a package of supplemental appropriations and fund shifts for behavioral health programs, authorizing federal grant carryovers for Idaho’s behavioral health plan and new one-time general-fund support for civil commitment and community hospitalization costs.

The supplements included a $6,743,800 one-time appropriation from the Cooperative Welfare Federal Fund to implement the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP) contract, and a $2,663,500 one-time general-fund addition for civil-commitment expenses in the community hospitalization program. The panel also approved smaller federal and dedicated-fund adjustments for ongoing IBHP implementation in FY 2026.

The package matters because the requests reflect both unspent federal grant awards tied to IBHP go‑live delays and immediate cost pressures on the state psychiatric hospitals and community hospitalization providers. The committee also adopted language that temporarily exempts the Division of Mental Health Services and the psychiatric hospitalization division from statutory limits on transfers between expense classes so the agencies can move funds between personnel…