JFAC approves technical corrections and program maintenance budgets across state agencies

The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Friday, Jan. 17 approved technical corrections and a wide set of program maintenance budgets covering dozens of state agencies and programs, advancing the baseline appropriations that will guide the 2026 budget cycle.

The committee voted to move reappropriated broadband funding into the Idaho Broadband Office, approved a general fund transfer to the Department of Environmental Quality and adopted program maintenance budgets for the legislative, judicial, constitutional officers, public safety, general government, economic development, natural resources, education and other functional areas. Most motions passed unanimously in roll-call votes; a small number drew one or two dissenting votes.

Why it matters: Program maintenance bills set the baseline “base budget” before the committee considers new policy or enhancement requests. Committee members said these actions largely reflect prior legislative decisions (one-time funding removed, contract-inflation and statewide cost-allocation adjustments added) and ensure agencies start the fiscal year with ongoing operational appropriations and required clear language for reappropriations, reporting and transfer exemptions.

Key approvals and amounts - Department of Commerce / Broadband: Committee corrected reappropriation entries so broadband monies moved into the newly created broadband office. The committee approved two motions to (1) remove $291,737,000 from the Department of Commerce commerce program and (2) add the same $291,737,000 to the broadband program. Both motions passed on roll call (20 ayes, 0 nays). The analyst said the actions “net to 0” in the budget tables.

- Department of Environmental Quality: Committee approved a $2,000,000 one-time appropriation and transfer from the general fund to the DEQ general fund to correct fund-source treatment that had been mischaracterized in the current-year budget (vote 20–0).

- Department of Health and Welfare corrections: The committee approved two corrective actions to move funds between expenditure categories in the Department of Health and Welfare: (1) For the Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Program, a reclassification moving $160,000 from trustee and benefit payments to operating expenditures; and (2) for the Physical Health Services Program, a reclassification reducing $240,000 from the Central Tumor Registry fund for operating expenditures. Both motions passed on roll call (20–0).

- Legislative branch: Program maintenance set the legislative branch program maintenance at $12,546,100, including $41,700 for statewide cost allocation; the motion included standard reappropriation and transfer-exemption language and passed (20–0).

- Judicial branch: Program maintenance approved for the judicial branch (including court operations, guardian ad litem program and judicial counsel) with the program maintenance totals and reappropriation authority for ARPA state fiscal recovery funds in the amount not to exceed $16,222,000; motion passed (20–0).

- Constitutional officers: Program maintenance for six statewide elected offices (governor’s office, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state controller, secretary of state, state treasurer) was approved at $73,630,300 with FTP caps applied where appropriate; motion passed (20–0).

- Public safety: Program maintenance across corrections, juvenile corrections, state police and related agencies was adopted at a program maintenance total of $528,074,000 and an FTP cap of 3,322.61; motion passed (20–0).

- General government: Program maintenance for the Department of Administration, governor’s office agencies and state tax commission was approved at $479,688,000; motion passed (20–0).

- Economic development: Program maintenance for a broad set of agencies (Commerce, Labor, Insurance, Agriculture, libraries, public defender, veterans services, etc.) was approved at $1,380,135,600 and FTP cap 4,165.28; motion passed (20–0).

- Natural resources: Program maintenance for DEQ, Fish & Game, Department of Lands, Endowment Fund Investment Board, Parks & Recreation and Water Resources was approved at $513,855,000 and an FTP cap of 1,632.4; motion passed (20–0).

- State Board of Education and affiliated institutions: Program maintenance was adopted for the State Board of Education and related programs (colleges and universities, community colleges, special programs, career technical education, Idaho Public Television, etc.) at a total of $1,099,940,000. The motion capped FTPs for certain programs at 534.97 and exempted others (e.g., research/tuition-driven campuses) per the packet; motion passed (20–0).

- Public school support: The committee approved the program maintenance package for public schools (statutorily driven distributions and the pieces that are not classified as one-time ARPA funding) at a total of $3,166,965,700 (including $2,651,787,500 general fund). The packet includes detailed statutory distribution language for teacher professional development, discretionary funds, health insurance, classroom technology, English proficiency grants, advanced opportunities, and other program-specific reporting requirements; motion passed (20–0).

Other routine language: For several budgets the committee also approved standard sections establishing reappropriation authority for ARPA/state fiscal recovery funds, continuous appropriation for specific funds (lottery payouts, bridge inspection funds, etc.), and reporting and auditing requirements. Committee analysts noted many language sections replicate prior years’ language but are moved into the relevant maintenance bill where the underlying programs are located.

What committee members said: Analysts and staff introduced each packet and answered procedural questions; Representative Raybould and others moved and seconded the motions (full roll-call lists are in the transcript). Committee chair recognized staff for assembling the voluminous technical corrections and budget tables.

Next steps: Staff said bills will be drafted from the approved motions and returned to the committee for a brief review before introduction; the committee is scheduled to reconvene for bill-review hearings next week.

Votes at a glance (selected motions; full roll calls in the transcript): - Commerce broadband reappropriation (remove $291,737,000 from commerce; add $291,737,000 to broadband): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Rep. Handy; second: Sen. Cook). - DEQ general-fund transfer ($2,000,000): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Sen. Woodward; second: Rep. Manwaring). - Health & Welfare corrections (substance abuse: $160,000 reclass; physical health: $240,000 reclass): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Rep. Price; second: Sen. Bierke). - Legislative branch program maintenance ($12,546,100): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Rep. Miller; second: Sen. Ward Engelking). - Judicial branch program maintenance (program maintenance totals and reappropriation authority): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Sen. Carlson; second: Rep. Mitchell). - Constitutional officers ($73,630,300): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Rep. Tanner; second: Sen. Bierke). - Public safety ($528,074,000; FTP cap 3,322.61): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Sen. Wintrow; second: Rep. Handy). - General government ($479,688,000): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Rep. Miller; second: Sen. Galloway). - Economic development ($1,380,135,600; FTP cap 4,165.28): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Sen. Woodward; second: Rep. Furness). - Natural resources ($513,855,000; FTP cap 1,632.4): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Rep. Manwaring; second: Sen. Ziderfeld). - State Board of Education ($1,099,940,000): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Sen. Ward Engelking; second: Rep. Petzke). - Public school support ($3,166,965,700): 20–0 (passed) (mover: Rep. Miller; second: Sen. Woodward).

Ending: Committee staff and analysts said they will incorporate the approved language into bills, post draft bills, and schedule a short review hearing before introduction. The committee recessed for the weekend and planned to continue cross-agency decisions (for example, CEC and health insurance) at a future meeting.