Idaho Agriculture seeks funding for quagga-mussel response, investigator pay and vehicle replacements

Idaho Department of Agriculture officials told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Oct. 24 that the agency’s fiscal 2026 request centers on quagga‑mussel response, investigator pay and replacement equipment.

For the record, Frances Lippett, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, reviewed the department’s appropriations history and fiscal‑year requests. Director Chanel Tewell of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture joined the presentation and took questions from committee members about quagga‑mussel sampling, staffing and vehicles.

The request includes a $5,000,000 general‑fund infusion for quagga‑mussel response that was approved in a prior session and an ongoing $1.5 million general‑fund appropriation for staffing and watercraft inspection stations. Lippett said the department’s invasive species fund is funded primarily by a watercraft sticker fee and that recent spending to operate check stations and respond to quagga mussels has drawn down fund balances.

The department…