Department of Insurance requests staff additions, highlights PBM oversight and wildfire pressures on homeowners insurance

The Idaho Department of Insurance told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 21 it is requesting several staffing and capital items for fiscal 2026 while describing implementation work on pharmacy benefit manager oversight and growing wildfire-related stress in the property insurance market.

Budget analyst Noah Peterson said the department sought four enhancements for FY2026: one staff actuary (95% of policy rate at $73/hour), one regulatory compliance specialist (80% of policy at $41.03/hour), a compensation increase for the state fire marshal and his deputies funded from the Arson Fire and Fraud Prevention Fund, and $162,200 in one‑time capital outlay for the state fire marshal division (including $10,000 for turnout gear, $16,200 for cameras and $136,000 for two medium‑duty pickup trucks).

"The insurance regulation division is broken up into three bureaus ... The Company Activities Bureau monitors the financial condition of all insurance entities domiciled in the state of Idaho," Peterson said during the agency overview. He noted the department has 75.5 approved full‑time positions and that premium tax…