Idaho JFAC approves multiple supplemental appropriations and FY2026 enhancements; ombudsman funding fails in House

BOISE — The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) on Friday approved a slate of supplemental appropriations and fiscal year 2026 budget enhancements affecting the Military Division, Division of Veterans Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Finance, Department of Insurance, and several education and health-training programs. Committee members voted to transfer $8.6 million from the state emergency relief fund to support hazardous-materials regional response teams and approved multiple one-time and ongoing increases for IT, personnel and replacement equipment across state agencies. A separate motion to appropriate $50,000 to create an Office of Health and Human Services ombudsman failed to receive affirmative support in the House delegation and will be taken up later.

The committee's actions affect a range of public-safety, veterans and regulatory programs and were taken as part of JFAC's budget-setting work for FY2026. Committee staff and agency analysts presented details and fiscal notes for each request; lawmakers referenced those fiscal notes when voting.

Most significant financial actions

- Military Division: The committee approved several items for the Military Division, including a $34,200 one-time reimbursement to the Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Fund (to cover remaining FY2024 cleanup costs) and a $540,001 one-time appropriation to support public-safety communications installation throughput. Lawmakers also approved a $759,200 one-time appropriation to upgrade the division's IT infrastructure and licensing and approved multiple FY2026 enhancements including positions for public-safety communications and funding for hazmat regional response equipment. "This would allow public safety communications to contract for the installation of public safety communication systems and vehicles," analyst Frances Lippitt told the committee.

- Hazardous-materials regional response: JFAC approved a separate FY2026 motion to transfer $8.6 million from the continuously appropriated state emergency relief fund to the Military Division's miscellaneous revenue fund to buy equipment for hazardous-materials regional response teams housed at local fire departments.

- Division of Veterans Services: The committee approved FY2026 requests that included a reallocation of operating to personnel funds to create a temporary nursing staffing pool, IT maintenance and capital outlay requests, and reappropriation authority for federal construction grants related to Boise and Lewiston…