JFAC hears library request to continue federal digital-access grants as senators press on summer-reading materials

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on [date not specified] heard the Idaho Commission for Libraries present budget requests tied to federal digital-access funding and local library grants.

The library commission asked the committee to approve continued base spending authority tied to the Digital Access for All Idahoans federal grant (authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and requested an ongoing $2,500,000-level reimbursement and subgranting authority to expand digital access, including digital navigators, devices and digital-skills training distributed through libraries and community organizations. Brooke Dupree, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, briefed the committee and identified that the grant funding is available through 02/2032 and that the agency expects additional notices of award. Dupree said the commission is asking to roll part of the grant into the agency base because it anticipates more libraries will become eligible for reimbursement than current base funding covers.

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