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New State Public Defender agency seeks millions in supplements, funding to cover transcripts, contracts and county onboards
Summary
Officials told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee that the newly created State Public Defender needs supplemental and ongoing funding, continued transfers into a dedicated state public defense fund and authorization for dozens of positions as counties transition into the state system.
Christopher Lahoset, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, walked the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee through the budget and staffing requests for the new State Public Defender — a recently created agency charged with providing and overseeing indigent defense statewide.
Lahoset cited Idaho Code 57‑8207 for the statutory transfer that directed a $39 million transfer from the tax relief fund into the state public defense fund. He said the agency requests a one‑time supplemental appropriation of $2.5 million for the current fiscal year to fully use that $39 million transfer. Lahoset also said the governor recommended a one‑time supplemental of $390,200 for transcript costs tied to the Idaho Supreme Court’s Dec. 5 decision in State v. Blasick, which assigned transcript costs to the state.
Other governor recommendations and agency requests included: a one‑time FY25 request of $5,427,600 for additional personnel and contracting costs;…
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