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JFAC approves $18.18 million in Fish and Game budget additions, including hatchery and regional renovations
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $18,184,900 in dedicated and federal fund additions to the Department of Fish and Game's FY2026 budget, largely one-time enhancements for hatcheries, regional office renovations, IT and mitigation staffing. The measure included reappropriation language requiring roll-call approval.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved additional appropriations for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game totaling $18,184,900 for fiscal year 2026, with $10,217,400 from dedicated funds and $7,967,500 from federal funds.
The additions approved by the committee were driven largely by one-time enhancement requests. The package included funds for regional office and Region 7 renovations, hatchery improvements and fish trailer tanks, replacement items and IT hardware, seasonal employees for habitat mitigation stewardship, a lease for the McCall regional office, remote connectivity and software licenses, and funding to align federal grant revenues. Committee staff told members many of the enhancements are one-time and would reduce the agency's 2027 base funding requirement.
Janet Jessup, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, briefed the committee on the department's five program structure and provided members a list and map of the 19 state-managed fish hatcheries. Her briefing and a handout were placed in the committee materials.
Representative Manmuring moved the FY2026 package described above; Senator Hart seconded. The motion included two pieces of reappropriation language to allow the agency to carry forward project funds into the next fiscal year and to reappropriate depredation funds that may be applied across fiscal years.
The committee's roll-call vote produced a majority in favor; the motion received a due-pass recommendation. The committee-recorded totals were: Senate portion — 9 ayes and 1 nay; House portion — 7 ayes, 2 nays and 1 absent and excused; grand total of 16 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent and excused.
The reappropriation language was considered on the record and required a roll-call vote; the committee approved that language as presented.
The department does not receive general fund appropriations; the additions approved were from dedicated and federal sources, with committee members noting approximately $15,000,000 of the requested enhancements were one-time funds. Jessup and other staff answered member questions about specific enhancements, the hatchery network and the nature of the funding.
The committee advanced the package with a due-pass recommendation to the next steps in the process. The department will be permitted to reappropriate approved one-time project funds and depredation funds into the next fiscal year where applicable.
