JFAC splits on Millennium Fund; original $7.06 million plan fails after House opposition

Boise — The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Thursday declined to advance the full package of recommendations from the Millennium Fund Committee after a heated debate over a youth survey and after‑school spending.

The Millennium Fund Committee had recommended $7,060,000 in dedicated funds for 2026, including a statewide youth well‑being survey, a fentanyl awareness campaign for Idaho State Police, personnel funding for Idaho Public Television, $2 million for a second cohort of school resource officers and $1.5 million for after‑school programs, among other items. A work‑group substitute that removed the youth survey and the after‑school line item and reduced the total to $5,210,000 failed in committee; the original motion then passed the Senate side of the committee but did not secure a majority in the House delegation and therefore failed overall.

Why it matters: The Millennium Fund is funded from the state's settlement proceeds and the committee's recommendations guide one‑time investments aimed at prevention, cessation and related youth services. The debate highlighted sharply different views about how directly the fund should address vaping and substance use prevention, and about whether community‑level after‑school programs are the appropriate use of settlement dollars.

What happened: Supporters of the full package argued the Idaho youth well‑being assessment will give local schools and families data to design targeted prevention interventions. Representative Gail Galvez, a public school teacher, said the Idaho‑designed assessment is opt‑in, family‑involved and already being used by districts that report improved attendance and student engagement.

"When you give Idahoans the power to do and make these interventions, put it in their hands, alongside our parents, they can do amazing things," Galvez said.

Opponents questioned whether parts of the package — in particular the youth survey and certain after‑school grants — matched the Millennium Fund’s prevention mission or would be effective. Representative Mitchell offered the substitute motion that kept fentanyl messaging and school resource officer funding but removed the survey and after‑school line items; he argued the survey leaned heavily toward mental‑health measures rather than targeting tobacco or vaping prevention.

"The survey is more about mental health than it is about smoking cessation," Mitchell said, explaining his preference to limit funding to items he judged more closely aligned with the fund’s intended mission.

Vote and outcome: The substitute motion failed on a committee voice/record vote; the original $7.06 million recommendation received sufficient support in the Senate delegation but did not achieve a House majority on the committee and therefore did not move forward as a single, approved package. Committee members said the proposal may be reconsidered on the House floor or returned to a working group for revision.

Context and next steps: Committee co‑chairs and several members urged continued work in the interim and said they expected further negotiations before final floor action. Members noted the Millennium Fund has a multi‑year balance and that the committee prioritized programs aimed at preventing youth initiation of tobacco and vaping and responding to an increase in fentanyl risks.

Ending: With the vote split along lines of policy scope and effectiveness, committee members said they will continue to consult with stakeholders and may return with refined proposals during follow‑up work group meetings or on the House floor.