New State Public Defender agency seeks substantial funding, cites start‑up shortfall and transcript costs

At a Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee hearing, the newly established State Public Defender outlined its budget formation, funding sources and requests, telling lawmakers the office needs supplemental and ongoing appropriations to implement statewide public‑defense services and to cover court transcript costs ordered by the Idaho Supreme Court.

Why it matters: The agency was created by statute and funded in part by a $39 million transfer from the tax relief fund to a new State Public Defense Fund. Committee members were briefed on how that dedicated fund is intended to support a statewide system and on multiple requests from the agency and the governor to provide spending authority and additional general‑fund support as the agency onboards counties and assumes responsibilities previously handled by counties or contract counsel.

What the agency said: Christopher LaHoset of the Legislative Services Office described the statute that created the agency (Title 19, Chapter 60, Section 3, Idaho Code) and explained that the State Public Defense Fund was established in section 57‑827 of Idaho Code (analyst’s citation for the transfer). He told…