New State Public Defender agency seeks millions to cover transcripts, contractors and staffing during transition

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard an extended budget briefing on the newly created State Public Defender agency, including requests for supplemental and ongoing appropriations to fund staffing, contract rates, transcripts and county onboarding as the office transitions statewide public defense responsibilities to the new structure.

Christopher Lahoset, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the office was created by statute (Title 19, Chapter 60, Section 3 of Idaho Code) and that a primary dedicated funding source is a $39 million transfer from the tax relief fund into the state public defense fund (codified in Idaho Code §57-8207). Lahoset outlined multiple requests: a $2.5 million one‑time supplemental to fully utilize the $39 million transfer, a $390,200 one‑time supplemental for transcript costs following the Idaho Supreme Court ruling in State v. Blasick, a $5,427,600 one‑time supplemental for FY25 personnel and contracting, and FY26 requests…