JFAC Friday: Dozens of budget adjustments approved; behavioral health and energy rebate debate draws pushback

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met Friday morning at the Idaho Statehouse and voted on a long list of budget maintenance, replacement and supplemental items affecting health and welfare, corrections, energy, labor and multiple small agencies.

The committee approved multiple behavioral-health appropriations—both one-time and ongoing—covering Idaho Behavioral Health Plan implementation funds, psychiatric hospitalization forecast adjustments and related transfer-limit exemption language. Committee members also approved funding for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Idaho Public Television replacement items, replacement vehicles for the Brand Inspection Division, information-technology hardware for several small agencies and a set of accounting-correction language for the Department of Labor.

The committee’s deliberations included a larger policy-adjacent debate over federal home energy rebates administered by the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Members expressed a range of views about accepting federal Inflation Reduction Act funding, with proponents arguing Idaho should take its federal share and opponents worried about federal overreach and long-term inflationary effects. The committee recorded conflicting tallies on that motion during the floor roll calls; committee chairs subsequently directed staff to transmit the matter to the House for consideration amid procedural disagreement.

Votes at a glance (selected motions recorded in committee) - Idaho Public Television (replacement items; network operations center): motion to add $342,400 from the general fund passed (total: 16 ayes, 4 nays). Motion text recorded by the clerk began: “Beginning with fiscal year 2026, JFAC program maintenance budget add 42,400 for replacement items and 300,000 for the network operations center replacement funding…” (mover: Senator Galloway; second: Rep. Galvez). - Soil and Water Conservation Commission: motion to add $1,040,500 (including $1,000,000 for water-quality grants) passed (total: 18 ayes, 2 nays). Motion included reappropriation…