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Joint finance committee backs $18.2 million in Fish and Game enhancements and approves reappropriation language
Summary
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee voted to recommend passage of FY2026 enhancements for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game totaling $18,184,900 and approved two pieces of reappropriation language allowing unspent project and depredation funds to carry forward.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Thursday recommended approval of FY2026 enhancements for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game that would add a total of $18,184,900 from dedicated and federal sources.
The committee voted to recommend a package that includes $10,217,400 from dedicated funds and $7,967,500 from federal funds, according to Legislative Services Office analysts. The package contains a mix of ongoing and one‑time items and included language to allow the agency to reappropriate specified project funds and depredation funds into the next fiscal year.
Janet Jessup, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, summarized the agency request and the department’s five programs—administration, enforcement, fisheries, wildlife and communications—before the committee. Jessup noted the agency operates 19 state fish hatcheries and provided a handout and map showing hatchery locations.
Representative Manmuring moved the main motion, listing line items that included funding for license department contract increases, the Albany Falls project, phase 2 of an agency website overhaul, hatchery trailer tanks, multiple regional office and Region 7 renovations, lease and operational increases for regional offices, replacement items, and IT hardware. The motion described approximately $16 million of requested enhancements as one‑time funds.
The motion carried with a combined committee tally of 16 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent/excused, giving the package a due‑pass recommendation. After the vote, staff presented two pieces of reappropriation language tied to the motion; both required roll call votes. The first permits reappropriation for specified projects expected to continue into the next fiscal year; the second applies to depredation funds that the agency distributes and which may carry into the next fiscal year.
Both pieces of reappropriation language passed on roll call: the Senate vote was recorded as 10 ayes (unanimous) and the House vote as 9 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused. Committee materials state the reappropriation permits the agency to carry forward funds for projects and depredation disbursements that cross fiscal years.
The committee record shows the agency receives no general fund appropriations for the items in the motion; the enhancements are funded from dedicated and federal sources.
The motion, the roll call on reappropriation and the due‑pass recommendation will be forwarded according to the committee’s usual reporting processes.
