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Votes at a glance: JFAC approves several agency budgets, sends most to floor; libraries grant tabled
Summary
At its March 7 meeting JFAC approved funding adjustments and transfers for multiple agencies (community colleges, Commerce transfer, juvenile corrections, Department of Corrections management services) and did not approve the $2.5 million library digital-access grant.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 7 considered multiple agency budgets and motions. Several items passed with due-pass recommendations; others were not approved by the full committee.
Passed motions (due-pass recommendation or approval by committee):
- Community colleges (enrollment workload adjustments): Approved additional $1,679,800 ongoing general fund for FY2026 (College of Eastern Idaho $496,800; College of Southern Idaho $690,000; College of Western Idaho $493,000). Vote: 19–1 (Senate 9–1; House 10–0). Outcome: Sent to the legislative floor with a due-pass recommendation.
- Department of Commerce: Approved a program transfer of 1 FTP and $140,900 from the Commerce program to the Broadband Office program with net $0 budgetary impact. Vote: 20–0 (Senate 10–0; House 10–0). Outcome: Due pass recommendation.
- Department of Juvenile Corrections: Approved several enhancements including $380,000 (dedicated funds) for radio system upgrade, $300,000 ongoing (general fund) for substance use disorder residential treatment, IT modernization adjustments (net 0) and replacement items; net additional $1,057,600 and reduction of 7 FTE. Vote: 15–5 (Senate 8–2; House 7–3). Outcome: Due pass recommendation.
- Department of Corrections, Management Services division: Approved enhancements including $1,000,000 for recidivism case management software, $668,100 for transparency software, IT replacement items and $85,000 for a special assistant U.S. attorney in northern Idaho; total additional $3,289,300 (general fund and dedicated funds). Vote: 15–5 (Senate 8–2; House 7–3). Outcome: Due pass recommendation.
Failed or deferred motions:
- Idaho Commission for Libraries, "Digital Access for All Idahoans" grant: The original motion to add $2,582,400 (including a $2,500,000 federal digital-access grant) failed because the House did not register an affirmative majority (House 5–5), so the committee did not approve the funding. A substitute motion to scale the appropriation back to $82,400 also failed under committee procedure. Staff identified the federal source as the Digital Equity Act; committee members requested follow-up federal documentation and signaled the item will be revisited at a later date.
Votes and procedure notes: For several items the committee recorded separate Senate and House tallies and then an overall committee result. In some instances a motion that carried overall lacked the required affirmative majority in one chamber and was therefore recorded as failing; committee co-chairs discussed a return procedure for motions that fail and noted they will bring failed items back to JFAC for reconsideration when appropriate.
Ending: Committee staff said members should expect continued workgroup meetings and further budget sessions in the coming days; the committee adjourned until the next scheduled meeting day.
