JFAC approves technical corrections, dozens of program-maintenance budgets and a Health & Welfare realignment

The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee approved a series of technical corrections and the program-maintenance budgets for most state agencies during its Jan. 17 meeting, carrying dozens of motions that adjust line-item classifications, reappropriate previously authorized funds and set annual maintenance levels ahead of the 2026 fiscal year.

Why it matters: The routine actions set the baseline spending and staffing caps state agencies will work from during the next budget cycle, move a large broadband appropriation into the newly created broadband office for tracking, and align Department of Health and Welfare appropriation units after the department’s reorganization. The committee also approved the public school support maintenance appropriation and other education-related language that will guide distributions to districts and charters.

Broadband and technical corrections - The committee approved two linked motions to move $291,737,000 in reappropriated funds out of the Department of Commerce’s general commerce program and into the broadband office so those dollars can be tracked in the broadband program. Representative Gary Handy (mover) made the motions; Senator Cook seconded. Both motions passed unanimously (20–0). The staff explanation noted the broadband office was added to Commerce after the prior reappropriation was recorded, so the correction moves prior reappropriated funds into the new office for transparency. - The committee approved a $2,000,000 correction for the Department of Environmental Quality that converts an item that had been treated as a reduction from the agency’s general fund appropriation into a transfer from the general fund so the agency is made whole. Senator Woodward moved the motion; Representative Manwaring seconded. The vote was unanimous (20–0).

Health & Welfare and small corrections - The committee approved two small appropriation reclassifications inside the Department of Health and Welfare: a $160,000 reclassification from trustee and benefit payments into operating expenditures for the substance-abuse treatment and prevention program, and a $240,000 operating-expenditure adjustment for the physical health services program (central tumor registry fund). Representative Price moved both motions and each passed unanimously (20–0). - The committee also voted to accept a departmental realignment requested by the Department of Health and Welfare (to rename and realign budget appropriation units and add a new appropriation unit for the Idaho Childcare Program). That realignment passed, but not unanimously: the final tally reported in the transcript was 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused.

Program-maintenance budgets and language The committee set or reaffirmed base (program-maintenance) appropriations and, in many cases, associated clear-language provisions or reappropriation authority across the budget. Highlights from the motions adopted include: - Legislative branch: program maintenance of $12,546,100 (Representative Miller moved; passed 20–0) and related clarifying language and reappropriation authority approved (20–0). - Judicial branch: program maintenance totaling roughly $96.7 million and related language reauthorizing ARPA reappropriations (Senator Carlson moved; passed 20–0). - Constitutional officers (six statewide elected offices, excluding schools): program maintenance of $73,630,300 and related statutory language, including limited reappropriation authority to the State Controller (Representative Tanner moved; passed 20–0). - Public safety agencies (Corrections, State Police, Juvenile Corrections, brand inspection, racing commission): maintenance appropriation of about $528.1 million and a cap of 3,322.61 FTEs; committee also approved related transfer/exemption language for specified Department of Corrections programs (Senator Wintrow moved; passed 20–0). - General government agencies: program-maintenance appropriation set at $479,688,000, FTE caps recorded, and multiple reappropriation and transfer authorities for items such as the Capitol Commission, workforce grants, and ARPA-funded programs (Representative Miller moved; passed 20–0). - Economic development functional area: program maintenance of about $1.38 billion and an FTE cap of 4,165.28; the committee also adopted a package of standard reappropriation and grant-authority language for broadband, watercraft inspection, lottery payouts, and other programs (Senator Woodward moved; passed 20–0). - Natural resources: program maintenance at about $513.9 million and multiple departmental language pieces (Representative Manwaring moved; passed 20–0). - State Board of Education and higher-education programs: program maintenance of $1,099,940,000 and authorized FTEs (some institutions and programs are exempt from caps); the committee also approved several reappropriation and tuition/fee handling language items. After initial approval, the committee made a small technical correction to Idaho Public Television language and approved that correction (motion passed; final recording shows 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused for that correction vote). - Public school support: the committee approved the program-maintenance appropriation the committee will use to carry forward statutory distributions (total program shown as $3,166,965,700 in the packet, including general/dedicated/federal mixes). The committee also adopted a multi-section clear-language package that defines distribution rules for professional development, discretionary funds, health insurance treatment, classroom technology, advanced opportunity and assessment support, and reporting requirements that districts and the Department of Education must satisfy (Representative Miller moved; motion carried unanimously where recorded).

Process, next steps and context - Several of the items approved today require bill drafting and will return to the committee for a short review once drafts are posted. Committee staff told members they will post the drafted bills and hold a review hearing before forwarding bills to the full legislature. - Committee members noted unresolved decisions remain for some statewide elements (notably CEC calculations and certain health insurance assumptions). The chair said those issues will be taken up later once members can reach consensus.

Ending The committee completed the bulk of its program-maintenance work and set the baseline appropriations and associated clarifying language that staff will use to draft maintenance appropriation bills. Committee members and staff said they will reconvene for a brief review once the bills are drafted to correct any technical drafting issues before introduction.