Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workforce Labor topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JFAC approves Department of Labor FY2026 funding shift; requested reporting language split committee
Summary
The committee approved the Department of Labor’s FY2026 fund-shift and personnel adjustments but a pair of requested reports — on the labor-market impact of illegal immigration and on disability determination costs — failed to secure the House majority and were referred for further consideration.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved changes to the Idaho Department of Labor’s fiscal year 2026 budget Wednesday that shift some activities from expected federal grant funding to state-dedicated funds, while trimming federal-funded full-time positions.
Brooke Dupree, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, described the department’s request and the mechanics of the funding adjustment. The committee adopted a motion to add $5,000,000 from the Employment Security Special Administration Fund and reduce federal grant fund appropriations by $4,839,000 and 15.58 full-time positions, producing a net increase of $161,000 for FY2026. The motion was put forward by Senator Cook and carried with a committee tally reported as 14 ayes and 5 nays in total; the committee recorded a “due pass” recommendation.
Committee discussion noted the department sought the change because federal grant awards are partially determined by unemployment levels. Committee staff explained state unemployment has been low recently, and the department expects a reduction in federal grant awards; moving operations to a dedicated fund would stabilize ongoing administration of the program and preserve capacity to respond quickly in a future downturn.
Separately, the committee considered two pieces of intent language requested for reports: one directing the Department of Labor to study the impact of illegal immigration on Idaho’s labor market, and a second directing a review of the costs of administering disability determination services at the state versus federal level. Committee members debated whether the legislature should direct executive-branch activity without appropriated funds. The Senate approved the language, but the House did not reach a majority in favor and the item was referred to the House for further action.
Committee debate included concerns raised by members that asking departments to produce new reports without funding constitutes mission creep and could require consultation with affected stakeholder groups, particularly for disability-related reviews. Proponents said the reports would provide data to inform later policy decisions and that the disability-review language included protections to terminate state-level work if federal requirements or costs make it infeasible.
The committee’s budget vote and the separate language votes were recorded on the committee floor and will be transmitted in the committee’s recommendations and reports to each chamber.
