JFAC approves series of transportation budgets, supplemental grants and a $275 million transfer

BOISE, Idaho — The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a set of appropriations and reappropriations for the Idaho Transportation Department on Tuesday, including supplemental federal reimbursements to local transit agencies and a $275 million general-fund transfer to state highway dedicated accounts.

The committee approved motions covering the Transportation Services Division, Division of Motor Vehicles, Division of Highway Operations, and the Contract Construction and Right of Way Acquisition Division. Committee chair Senator Groh said at the start of the meeting, "our hope is that this will be our last JFAC meeting," and members proceeded to move and pass a series of budget motions to forward to their respective floors.

Why it matters: the package moves significant one-time and ongoing dollars into state transportation programs, authorizes reappropriations, and directs substantial transfers from the general fund into dedicated highway funds that will be disbursed in the coming fiscal year. The transfer and reappropriations affect how and when construction, safety, maintenance and local distribution funds will be available to agencies and local jurisdictions.

Most significant actions and outcomes (votes at a glance):

- Transportation Services Division, FY2026: The committee approved an additional $38,090,600 from dedicated funds to reappropriate the State Aeronautics Dedicated Fund and State Highway Dedicated Fund for the division’s capital facilities and aeronautics grant programs. Motion moved by Representative Handy and seconded by Senator Cook; motion carried with both houses' majorities voting in the affirmative (final reported total: 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused).

- Aeronautics program language: Committee accepted, by unanimous consent, language requiring confirmation that local airports comply with regulations (specifically that hangars are not being used for non-aeronautical uses) before aeronautics grant funds are distributed.

- Division of Motor Vehicles, FY2026: The committee approved $1,589,800 from dedicated funds for replacement items and IT hardware (motion by Sen. Cook; second by Rep. Galaviz). Vote recorded as a committee majority in the affirmative (final aggregate reported: 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused).

- Highway Operations supplemental (FY2025): A $5,000,000 one-time federal appropriation to reimburse local public transportation jurisdictions for federally allowable projects was approved (moved by Representative Galaviz; second by Sen. Cook). Motion carried (final aggregate reported: 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused).

- Highway Operations supplemental (FY2025) — metropolitan planning organizations: A separate $500,000 one-time federal appropriation to reimburse metropolitan planning organizations was approved (motion by Sen. Cook; second by Rep. Gallavese). The committee passed the motion (final aggregate reported: 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused).

- Highway Operations Division, FY2026 omnibus: The committee approved an FY2026 package totaling $84,963,600 (a mix of dedicated and federal funds) covering targeted crew enhancements, new equipment, automated materials software, public transit support, highway safety campaigns, metropolitan planning, historical marker updates, CARES-funded statewide transit assistance, replacement items and IT hardware. Motion moved by Representative Furness; seconded by Sen. Cook. Vote outcome: committee majority in the affirmative (reported totals: 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent/excused).

- Contract Construction & Right of Way Acquisition supplemental (FY2025): The committee approved $10,000,000 from the State Highway Local Fund and $50,000,000 from State Highway Federal Fund (total $60,000,000) for contract construction and right-of-way acquisition (motion by Rep. Handy; second by Sen. Cook). Motion carried (reported totals: unanimous Senate 10 ayes; House 9 ayes, 1 absent/excused).

- Contract Construction & Right of Way Acquisition, FY2026 and reappropriation: The committee approved an additional $5,000,000 from dedicated funds and $107,276,000 from federal funds (total $112,276,000) for construction projects and set reappropriation authority not to exceed $300,000,000. Motion by Representative Furness; second by Sen. Cook. Motion carried unanimously in the Senate and by House majority (reported totals: unanimous Senate 10 ayes; House 9 ayes, 1 absent/excused).

- General fund transfer for safety, capacity and maintenance projects: The committee approved a transfer of $275,000,000 from the general fund into dedicated funds, to be allocated $165,000,000 to the Strategic Initiatives Program dedicated fund and $110,000,000 to the Local Highway Distribution Fund; funds are to be distributed with the first distribution of the new fiscal year. Motion by Representative Furness; second by Sen. Cook. Final committee tally reported: 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent/excused.

How decisions were recorded: most motions were moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice or roll-call; Figueredo (committee staff) recorded roll calls for both chambers, and vote tallies were announced for Senate and House aggregates before the committee forwarded a "do pass" recommendation.

Context and next steps: the chair and several members said the committee sought to limit duplicate motions and to consolidate changes into a single bill that will go to each chamber’s floor. Several members noted that minor dollar adjustments (described during the meeting as reductions totaling $100 or $200 across particular line items) were made to align with changes from prior failed Senate action; committee staff indicated those technical corrections will be reflected when the single omnibus bill is filed.

Members’ remarks and concerns: discussion in committee focused largely on process (consolidation of motions into one bill) and technical clarifications of fund sources and reappropriation authority. No substantial floor debate on program policy occurred in this session; members repeatedly moved to proceed to votes so the package could be transmitted to the House and Senate floors.

What was not changed here: committee members removed certain previously proposed language that directed how local transportation entities would spend funds (the chair and staff said they removed language that "directed them to spend the money in certain places").

Outcome: the motions received "do pass" or similar recommendations and will be included in committee reports and transmitted to the full House and Senate for further consideration.