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JFAC approves Fish and Game supplemental, advances $18.3 million in FY2026 enhancements including Idaho Power settlement
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a $270,000 supplemental for Boise River Wildlife Management Area Valley Fire repairs and voted to advance a FY2026 package for the Department of Fish and Game that includes an $800,000 Idaho Power settlement for fire rehabilitation and other one-time and ongoing enhancements.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on the floor approved a $270,000 supplemental appropriation to the Department of Fish and Game to cover work already done after damage from last summer's Valley Fire and then approved a larger FY2026 enhancement package that includes settlement funds from Idaho Power and multiple one-time infrastructure and equipment items.
Janet Jessup, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee the $270,000 supplemental covers funds already expended in 2024 to address damage at the Boise River Wildlife Management Area following the Valley Fire. Jessup said the Valley Fire burned approximately 9,900 acres and that a settlement between the department and Idaho Power calls for Idaho Power to convey $800,000 to Fish and Game for FY2026 to support rehabilitation work.
The committee voted unanimously to recommend the $270,000 supplemental. After debate on the FY2026 package, the committee voted to advance the department's request totaling roughly $18.3 million, made up of $11,017,400 from dedicated funds and $7,287,600 from federal funds. The FY2026 package (as moved by Senator Woodward and seconded by Representative Manwaring) includes funds for a license-and-sales system contract increase, the final year of Albany Falls mitigation, recreational access-lease cost increases, a website overhaul, hatchery trailers and renovations, remote connectivity for remote hatcheries, regional office leases and renovations, replacement items, and an $800,000 Idaho Power settlement item to support Valley Fire rehabilitation.
Committee members asked how much of Fish and Game’s federal funds come from Bonneville/contractual sources and from federal excise distributions (Dingell–Johnson and Pittman–Robertson). Jessup said the agency’s federal fund sources include Bonneville Power Administration reimbursements, Idaho Power reimbursements for hatchery operations, Dingell–Johnson and Pittman–Robertson distributions and other federal grants; she estimated the plurality of the agency’s federal funds come from those sources.
The committee also approved language to allow reappropriation of certain FY2025 project balances (deferred maintenance, the Pocatello office remodel, and website overhaul) into FY2026 and made the balance of the depredation expendable account available for timing-related reimbursements.
The committee recorded the votes on the supplemental and the FY2026 package and sent both forward with due-pass recommendations.
Ending: The committee’s approvals enable Fish and Game to continue valley-fire rehabilitation and advance multiple operational and capital projects in FY2026. The approved motions will proceed to the respective floors for final action.
