House committee introduces bill to shift TechEm program allocations, committee members urge fiscal review

Representative Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, introduced RS31953 to the Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee on the grounds that it would reallocate portions of the TechEm congestion funding program.

Palmer said the bill would “add on and split out over the next 3 years adding 20 more each year to the 80, so that'll boost that 1 up by 60 at the end of it. And on the locals, it takes off the 60 and drops it down to a hard set of 45.” He told the committee he had presented a version of this section in 2017 and that organizers have adjusted the language over time.

The bill would change distributions from the sales tax fund that support large freeway and highway congestion projects. Palmer noted the growth of that fund since the program’s inception: “the sales tax fund since 2017 at inception this bill was at $1,700,000,000 is now at over $3,000,000,000,” and said the TechEm program currently directs $80 million to state projects to support bonding while local distributions have varied year to year.

Representative Jess Gannon asked whether RS31953 could prioritize projects on the Flying Y interchange and on Interstate 84 east and west toward Nampa and Micron, saying, “Is there some language we could include in there where there would be more of a focus on that area?” Palmer responded that the program’s existing language and the board-selection process already include projects that relieve pressure on that corridor and pointed to provisions tied to a state campus on Chinden as relevant to the corridor.

Representative Birch supported introducing the resolution but asked the committee to examine how the new obligation fits into the broader fiscal picture. Birch said, according to the statement of purpose, “this bill obligates another $63,000,000 out of the general fund for this particular purpose,” and urged the committee to consider that more than 46% of the general fund is already allocated by existing law, raising concerns about vulnerability to downturns.

Representative Patrick Raybould moved to introduce RS31953; the motion passed on a voice vote. The committee also approved minutes from its Jan. 13, 2025 meeting by voice vote earlier in the session.

Committee members said they expect a fuller hearing with technical staff and transportation professionals to provide project-level detail and fiscal analysis before the committee considers final action.