Committee weighs making Digital Access for All Idahoans grant part of base budget

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Oct. 12 heard from the Idaho Commission for Libraries about its FY2026 budget request, including a $2,500,000 ongoing request to continue the Digital Access for All Idahoans program funded through federal grants.

The request would make an annual $2.5 million appropriation part of the state base to support subgrants and staff implementing a federally funded initiative designed to expand digital skills, devices and navigation services. Brooke Dupree, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the commission "received, and I have the number here, just over $6,000,000 for the Digital Access for All Idahoans grant, and they're able to spend that over 5 years." She noted the commission expects additional notices of award that could extend spending authority through 2032.

Why it matters: Committee members pressed agency staff on whether a federal, time-limited grant should be rolled into the state's ongoing base budget. Senators raised concerns that making a program permanent in the base creates an expectation for continued state general-fund support when federal money ends. Supporters said predictable ongoing funding helps libraries plan and manage multi-year implementation.

Details and debate

Brooke Dupree summarized the commission's overall request and spending history, noting the agency supports roughly 850 libraries statewide and that recent spending spikes reflected federal funds such as ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) and ARPA Capital Projects Fund awards. The Commission is also seeking smaller ongoing amounts including $42,400 for a broadband reimbursement tied to the Education Opportunity Resource Act (Chapter 56, Title 33, Idaho Code) and additional federal subgrant spending authority.

State Librarian Stephanie Bailey White described how the Digital Access plan will be implemented: "We were the 3rd state in the nation to receive our allocation of funds, but they didn't roll in until November," White said, adding the commission had launched a first round of subgrant applications and received about 39 applications. She told the committee that "80 percent of the funds are planned to go out through subgrants to Idaho organizations, our community colleges, school districts" to hire digital navigators, provide tech support and buy devices to be distributed locally.

Several senators asked for more detail before approving the request as ongoing. Senator Carlson asked for an itemized accounting of how prior digital-access awards had been spent and asked that the commission coordinate with the analyst to provide detailed information about summer reading program materials. Senator Gregg and others noted the federal grant is multi-year (the commission described it as a five-year federal grant in committee) and asked the staff to clarify the grant timeline and whether the commission expects additional notices of award that would extend the program to 2032.

Agency and funding context

Dupree and the commission explained sources behind the recent revenue spikes: ESSER funds were used for summer and after-school programs, and ARPA Capital Projects Fund dollars (about $3.5 million in FY2024) drove a one-year rise in expenditures. The Digital Access funding originates from IIJA/BID allocations administered through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; the commission must submit subgrant awards to NTIA for review. The commission also noted it uses other federal funds and donations for library programs; for example, the Scottish Rite Foundation provided a $17,500 donation used in recent summer reading efforts.

Follow-ups and next steps

Committee members asked the commission and legislative analysts to provide a breakdown of how the existing federal money has been spent to date, details on what the subgrants will fund at the local level, and a clearer timeline for anticipated federal notices of award. Dupree and Bailey White agreed to provide follow-up materials, including a more granular spending plan and the results of the first subgrant round.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the request during this hearing; members suggested the option of treating the money as a one-time appropriation again rather than rolling it into the base, or approving ongoing authority with monitoring and further reporting.