JFAC approves multiple supplemental and FY2026 budget actions, including $8.6M for hazmat regional response

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved a slate of supplemental appropriations and fiscal year 2026 budget enhancements at its meeting, funding hazardous materials teams, public‑safety communications work and other agency needs while sending several measures on to the full legislature with due‑pass recommendations.

Committee members said the votes moved money to items the staff had identified as time‑sensitive, including vehicle and communications work that the Idaho State Police and National Guard need to deploy before year end. "This would allow public safety communications to contract for the installation of public safety communication systems and vehicles owned by the Idaho State Police," budget analyst Frances Lippitt told the committee when describing a $540,001 supplemental request for the military division.

Why it matters: The approved items provide one‑time and ongoing funding that agencies said is necessary to maintain or expand services, including hazardous‑materials response teams, veterans homes operations and agricultural pest control. The committee also approved personnel and IT additions for regulatory agencies and medical education funding intended to expand residency training in the state.

Key approvals and amounts - Hazardous substance emergency response — the committee approved a 1‑time appropriation and transfer of $34,200 from the general fund to the hazardous substance emergency response fund to reimburse remaining FY2024 cleanup costs. Motion carried (due…