State Historical Society seeks funds to consolidate archives, expand Old Idaho Penitentiary operations and support America250 commemoration

The Idaho State Historical Society presented FY26 budget requests and project updates to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee, outlining plans to consolidate collections into a single facility, expand staffing at the Old Idaho Penitentiary historic site and spend previously authorized money for the America250 commemoration.

Brooke Dupree, Legislative Services Office analyst, reviewed the agency’s organization and recent fund history. Dupree noted the agency provides records and archives services to state agencies, operates the State Museum and the Old Idaho Penitentiary, and reported FY24 spending that included a one‑time $5 million infrastructure appropriation in FY22 that was largely reappropriated into FY23.

Agency requests and rationale: The historical society requested the following FY26 items (as presented to the committee): an ongoing $103,200 package for Old Idaho Penitentiary staff (including one full‑time equivalent funded from the penitentiary’s miscellaneous revenue), a $62,900 ongoing archivist technician position to support…