Votes at a glance: JFAC approves multiple supplemental appropriations, FY2026 enhancements; ombudsman funding fails in the House

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 14 considered and voted on a sequence of supplemental appropriations, replacements, and fiscal-year 2026 enhancement requests across multiple state agencies. Most motions carried a due-pass recommendation to the Legislature; one motion to fund a new ombudsman office did not pass the House and failed.

Key votes and outcomes (motions are summarized exactly as recorded in the committee packet or on the floor):

- Hazardous-substance response deficiency warrant (Military Division): motion to appropriate and transfer $34,200 one-time from the general fund to the Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Fund for FY2025. Moved by Senator Ward Engelking; second by Representative Petzke. Vote: 20 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Public safety communications supplemental (Military Division): one-time appropriation of $540,001 from the general fund to support public safety communication system installation and build-out. Moved by Senator Ward Engelking; second by Representative Handy. Vote: 20 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- IT infrastructure upgrade (Military Division): one-time appropriation of $759,200 from the general fund to upgrade IT infrastructure and create an independent network for public safety communications. Moved by Representative Petzke; second by Senator Ward Engelking. Vote: 19 ayes, 1 nay. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- FY2026 Military Division enhancements (network administrator, replacement items, hazmat regional teams and other adjustments): motion to add $66,200 from the general fund, $9,190,200 from dedicated funds, and reduce $139,300 from federal funds for a net increase of $9,117,100. Moved by Representative Petzke; second by Senator Ward Engelking. Vote: 19 ayes, 1 nay. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Transfer for hazmat regional response teams: one-time appropriation and transfer of $8,600,000 from the state emergency relief fund to the miscellaneous revenue fund for hazardous materials regional response. Moved by Representative Petzke; second by Senator Ward Engelking. Vote: 19 ayes, 1 nay. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Veterans services FY2026 requests (staffing adjustments, capital outlay, reappropriation for construction grants): motion to add $21,800 from the general fund, $588,400 from dedicated funds, and $98,800 from federal funds for a total increase of $709,000, and to include reappropriation authority not to exceed amounts cited in packet. Moved by Senator Woodward; second by Representative Handy. Vote: 19 ayes, 1 nay. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Department of Agriculture deficiency (exotic species monitoring and control): one-time appropriation and transfer of $1,724,300 from the general fund to the pest control deficiency fund for FY2025. Moved by Representative Handy; second by Senator Hart. Vote: 20 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Department of Agriculture FY2026 enhancements (investigator pay structure, CEC adjustments, replacement items and IT hardware): motion to add $231,200 from the general fund, $1,542,700 from dedicated funds, and $63,000 from federal funds for a total increase of $1,836,900. Moved by Senator Cook; second by Representative Handy. Vote: combined reported totals 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Department of Finance enhancements (financial examiners, cybersecurity and forensic accounting positions, IT hardware): motion to add 5 FTP and $765,800 from dedicated funds. Moved by Senator Hart; second by Representative Galaviz. Vote: combined reported totals 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Department of Insurance enhancements (staff actuary, regulatory compliance specialist, compensation adjustments, replacement items): motion to add $533,400 from dedicated funds and 2 FTP. Moved by Representative Furness; second by Senator Cook. Vote: combined reported totals 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- State Board of Education, Division of Special Programs (workforce development manager, rural educator incentives, Idaho Mobile Museum, CEC correction): motion to add $1,414,100 from the general fund and 0.27 FTP. Moved by Senator Carlson; second by Representative Price. Vote: combined reported totals 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Health education programs (residency and fellowship funding across multiple sites): motion to add $954,500 from the general fund and 2 FTP. Moved by Representative Petsky; second by Senator Galloway. Vote: combined reported totals 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation. Committee added intent language directing Idaho Graduate Medical Education Committee reporting requirements.

- State Independent Living Council (shift of CEC and health-benefit appropriation from dedicated funds to general fund): motion to shift $11,600 to the general fund and reduce dedicated funds by $11,600 (net zero budget impact). Moved by Representative Furness; second (recorded). Vote: combined reported totals 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Licensing and certification transfer/report language (see separate article): motion to accept language allowing transfers for contract nurses and requiring a report/draft legislation from DHW and DOPL. Moved by Representative Tanner; second by Senator Cook. Vote: 16 ayes, 2 nays, 2 absent/excused. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Division of Indirect Support Services, Department of Health and Welfare (replacement items, SQL Server replacement, IT support hardware; vehicle-fleet report language): motion to add $2,298,700 from the general fund and $2,625,000 from federal funds (total $4,923,700) and require a departmental report on state vehicles to JFAC by Dec. 15. Moved by Representative Mitchell; second by Representative Bierke. Vote: combined reported totals 17 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent/excused. Outcome: approved; due-pass recommendation.

- Office of Health and Human Services Ombudsman (salary increase line item): motion to add $50,000 from the general fund. Moved by Senator Wintrow; second by Representative Handy. Roll call resulted in 13 ayes, 4 nays, 3 absent/excused; the House did not record a majority in the affirmative and the motion failed and will be taken up later.

What this means: JFAC advanced most agency supplemental and FY2026 enhancement requests with due-pass recommendations to the Legislature, including several one-time appropriations and multi-year enhancement packages. The committee also ordered follow-up reports and a planning draft for a possible licensing transfer. The ombudsman appropriation did not secure a House majority in committee and failed at this session.

The committee closed the session with a due-pass recommendation on the majority of items and instructions to staff for follow-up reports where language required them.