JFAC approves technical corrections and program-maintenance budgets across state agencies; health-and-human-services realignment draws dissent

Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee members on Friday, Jan. 17, approved technical corrections and program-maintenance budgets covering most state agencies for fiscal 2026 and fixed carryovers from the current year.

The committee unanimously approved routine technical corrections that reclassify reappropriated funds and correct appropriation sources, and it set program-maintenance budgets for the legislative branch, judicial branch, constitutional officers, public safety, general government, economic development, natural resources, state board of education, public schools and other functional areas. A department reorganization and an appropriation-unit realignment in the Department of Health and Welfare drew one House “no” vote during an earlier procedural motion and two “no” votes on the larger maintenance appropriation.

The session began with a correction to how broadband reappropriated funds are tracked, followed by a series of largely uncontested maintenance-budget votes. Janet Jessup, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services Office, explained that last year’s reappropriation for broadband ended up in the Department of Commerce’s commerce program rather than the broadband office; the committee removed $291,737,000 from Commerce’s commerce program and added the same amount to the broadband office so the funds can be tracked in the correct program. Both broadband motions passed on roll call, 20 ayes, 0 nays.

The committee also approved a $2 million correction moving a transfer into the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) general fund so the agency’s appropriation reflects a transfer rather than a reduction in the general fund appropriation. Senator Woodward moved that motion; it passed unanimously on roll call (20–0).

Representative Price moved two small corrections in the Department of Health and Welfare: a $160,000 reclassification within the Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Program (moving $160,000 from trustee and benefit payments to operating expenditures) and a $240,000 adjustment in the Physical Health Services Program (reducing operating expenditures from the central tumor registry fund). Both motions passed unanimously (20–0).

The committee then turned to program-maintenance budgets for FY 2026. Analysts briefed the committee agency by agency and identified the program-maintenance totals (base appropriations plus agreed statewide decisions such as statewide cost allocation and contract inflation where applicable). Key adopted maintenance totals included: legislative branch program maintenance of $12,546,100 (no FTP cap), the judicial branch at $96,696,300 (no FTP cap), constitutional officers at $73,630,300 (FTP cap 431.91), public safety at $528,074,000 (FTP cap 3,322.61), general government at $479,688,000, economic development at $1,380,135,600 (FTP cap 4,165.28), natural resources at $513,855,000 (FTP cap 1,632.4), state board of education-related programs at $1,099,940,000 (FTP cap 534.97 for some programs; agricultural research and extension, colleges and universities, and certain postsecondary programs excluded from that cap), public school support at $3,166,965,700 (no FTP cap), and others as described in analysts’ packets. All of those maintenance motions passed on roll call, typically 20–0 for the assembled committee.

Health and Human Services actions included a departmental reorganization alignment motion that created a new budget appropriation unit for the Idaho Child Care Program and realigned base appropriations. That realignment motion passed in a roll call with the Senate voting 10–0 and the House voting 8–1 (one House member voting “no,” one absent), giving a combined tally of 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused. Later the committee voted on the program-maintenance appropriation package for health and human services (the larger dollar totals that incorporate the realignment and federal/dedicated funding). That larger motion passed but with two dissenting votes recorded; the final reported tally after a late change was 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent/excused.

Committee members and staff noted that several statewide decisions were left for a future action: the committee did not reach agreement on the range of CEC (change-in-employee-compensation) proposals or on a final health insurance funding approach during this meeting, and chairs said those topics will return for later action once there is agreement.

Votes at a glance (select motions recorded on the transcript): - Remove $291,737,000 reappropriated funds from the Department of Commerce commerce program (Representative Handy moved; seconded by Senator Cook). Roll call: 20 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed. - Add $291,737,000 reappropriated funds to the Department of Commerce broadband office (Representative Handy moved; seconded by Senator Cook). Roll call: 20 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed. - Transfer/appropriation correction for Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Program: $2,000,000 from the general fund to DEQ general fund (Senator Woodward moved; seconded by Representative Manwaring). Roll call: 20 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed. - Health & Welfare corrections: Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention program reclassification ($160,000) and Physical Health Services program adjustment ($240,000) (Representative Price moved both; seconded). Roll calls: 20–0; outcome: passed. - Program-maintenance appropriations (selected results): legislative branch ($12,546,100; Rep. Miller moved): 20–0; judicial branch ($96,696,300; Sen. Carlson moved): 20–0; constitutional officers ($73,630,300; Rep. Tanner moved): 20–0; public safety ($528,074,000; Sen. Wintrow moved): 20–0; general government ($479,688,000; Rep. Miller moved): 20–0; economic development ($1,380,135,600; Sen. Woodward moved): 20–0; natural resources ($513,855,000; Rep. Manwaring moved): 20–0; state board of education-related programs ($1,099,940,000; motion by Rep. Ward Engelking): 20–0; public school support ($3,166,965,700; Rep. Miller moved): 20–0. - Health & Human Services reorganization/realignment (adds Idaho Child Care program appropriation unit): motion passed (Senate 10–0; House 8–1; total 18–1–1); later HHS program-maintenance appropriation passed with final tally reported 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent/excused. - Correction to Idaho Public Television line in State Board of Education language (Ms. Jessup moved correction; seconded): final tally 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused; outcome: passed.

Why this matters: the votes set baseline operating budgets and appropriation authority that the Legislature will use as it considers enhancements, policy bills and the remaining statewide decisions (CEC and health insurance). Several large funds included federal grants and reappropriated ARPA/state fiscal recovery dollars that require reappropriation authority or carryover language; the committee added the customary accountability and carryover language where analysts recommended it.

What to watch next: the committee will return to outstanding statewide choices, notably the CEC decision and the health insurance funding approach, at a future meeting. Staff said the committee will also review drafted appropriation bills next Friday for any needed technical corrections before sending bills to the floor.

Ending: Committee chairs thanked staff and analysts for the work and recessed the meeting at the end of the agenda. The committee scheduled follow-up reviews when drafted bills are available and when outstanding statewide decisions can be resolved.

Speakers quoted in this article are identified in the meeting record and were part of the committee discussion and roll calls.