JFAC approves $177.4 million CEC package and signs off technical fixes to maintenance bills

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to add a $177,429,100 change‑in‑employee‑compensation package to FY2026 maintenance bills and approved a set of technical language corrections to previously adopted maintenance bill provisions.

The package provides $84,411,100 to implement a $1.55 per hour minimum increase for state agency and institution permanent employees, $2,305,700 for community colleges, $6,042,800 for salary schedule adjustments for those at pay‑grade minimums, and $84,669,500 for public schools and the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind. The total includes $128,354,900 from the general fund, $34,266,900 from dedicated funds and $14,807,300 from federal funds, for a combined $177,429,100.

Keith Bybee, Division Manager, Budget Policy Analysis, summarized the package and the conforming language for the committee, saying the motion “directs that employees shall receive pay increases between a dollar 5 per hour and $1.55 per hour except in specific circumstances outlined in paragraphs 2 through 5” and described reporting requirements for agencies and the Division of Human Resources to track pay changes.

Representative Miller moved the CEC motion on the floor; Senator Groves seconded. The measure drew debate from committee members about compression and recruitment. Senator Ward Engle King said she could not support the motion, warning it would “continue to cause us problems in the future in retaining state employees and being able to recruit them.” Senator Wintrow also said she could not support the motion, citing the statute’s directive to provide a competitive salary package. Senator Cook and Senator Woodward spoke in favor, with Cook arguing the motion rewards workers and Woodward warning the increase could create pay compression and a “use it or lose it” dynamic for managers.

Roll calls were held. The transcript reports the Senate vote as 8 ayes, 2 nays; the House vote was reported as 18 ayes (transcript includes variation in how the House roll call was read). The committee chair announced the majority had voted in the affirmative and the motion will carry a due‑pass recommendation to the floor.

Earlier in the meeting the committee addressed three technical corrections to maintenance bill language. Jared Tetreault, Deputy Manager, Budget Division, Legislative Services, explained a fix to program transfer language in the public schools budget to add Idaho Digital Learning Academy as its own division so transfers do not create unintended deposit/withdrawal conflicts. Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst, identified and corrected language tying a Millennium Income Fund appropriation to the wrong section so the funds are properly referenced in section 1 of the maintenance bill. Keith Bybee described and corrected a typographic error in the constitutional officers’ full‑time equivalent (FTE) cap (corrected to 431.9). Each of those corrections was accepted by unanimous consent or a roll call where required.

Votes at a glance

- Technical corrections to public schools program transfer language: unanimous consent to accept corrected language (no roll call recorded).

- Technical correction to health and human services (Millennium Income Fund language): unanimous consent to accept corrected language (no roll call recorded).

- Constitutional officers FTE cap correction (set FTE cap at 431.9): motion carried by roll call; committee reported a total of 20 ayes, 0 nays (committee announcement on the record).

- CEC package motion (include $1.55 per hour and related schedule adjustments, plus $84.669.5M for schools): moved by Representative Miller; seconded by Senator Groves; committee reported Senate roll 8 ayes, 2 nays; House roll reported in transcript as 18 ayes (see official roll on the bill file). The chair announced the motion passed and will be recommended to the floor.

Why it matters: The language and funding the committee adopted will be folded into the maintenance bills that travel to the floor. The CEC package directs both baseline increases and schedule‑specific adjustments (IT and engineering, public safety, nursing/healthcare, and an 8% cap for Idaho State Police troopers) and imposes reporting requirements intended to let the legislature review how agencies spend any new personnel dollars.

The committee also asked staff to compile a consolidated list of additional pay requests that exceed the CEC approved this day so members can evaluate downstream requests arising from the new CEC funding.

Ending: The committee adjourned after the CEC and technical language votes and moved on to the remainder of the day’s agency presentations.