JFAC advances multiple supplemental appropriations, school funding timing changes and year‑end cash transfers

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee voted on a slate of supplemental appropriations, trailer bills, and year‑end cash transfers during a March session. The committee approved a $200,000 one‑time supplemental for the Military Division to support the commissioning of the USS Idaho; approved changes to the timing and routing of school facility funding, including a $330 million cash transfer to the public school income fund; approved multiple trailer appropriations for education and transportation; and moved several year‑end cash balances from special funds into the general fund.

Why it matters: the committee’s actions reallocate or confirm funding streams for state agencies and local schools and set year‑end accounting that will affect the final general‑fund balance and timing for school district receipts. Several votes involved dedicated funds or ongoing vs. one‑time designations, prompting questions from members about the proper use of fee‑supported accounts and the legislature’s accounting conventions.

Votes at a glance (motions approved by JFAC during the session)

- Military division supplemental — motion: add $200,000 one‑time from the general fund for customary naming‑state contribution and scholarship related to the commissioning of the USS Idaho (Virginia‑class submarine). Outcome: passed; committee reported a due‑pass recommendation. Vote: Senate 9 ayes, 1 nay; House 10 ayes; Total 19 ayes, 1 nay.

- Technical correction to Boise State and University of Idaho reductions — motion: change previously adopted reductions to be one‑time rather than ongoing. Outcome: accepted by unanimous consent.

- Executive Office of the Governor (FY2026 enhancements) — motion: add $45,000 for IT hardware and $250,000 for “America250” (semi‑quincentennial) as requested, total $295,000 from the general fund. Outcome: passed. Roll call: Senate 9 ayes, 1 nay; House unanimous 10 ayes; Total 19 ayes, 1 nay.

- Industrial Commission (supplemental transfer) — motion: net 0 agency‑wide transfer shifting $47,000 into the Peace Officer and Detention Officer Temporary Disability Fund and reducing other internal funds; also later a separate FY2026 package of staff and contract requests totaling $570,300 from dedicated funds (with some items to be accomplished within existing FTP). Outcomes: both motions passed. Supplemental transfer passed unanimously (Senate 10 ayes; House 10 ayes; Total 20 ayes). FY2026 enhancement package passed on roll call (Total 13 ayes, 7 nays).

- Commission on the Arts enhancement — motion: decline an $18,400 ongoing general‑fund enhancement request (motion to provide no additional appropriation). Outcome: passed; motion carried; enhancement will not advance.

- Transportation expansion distribution (trailer to HB304/HB25 discussion) — motion: for FY2026 an additional $20,000,000 ongoing from the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation Fund to Idaho Transportation Department (contract construction and right‑of‑way). Outcome: passed; Total 19 ayes, 1 nay. (Analysts discussed a $16 million figure as the difference between projected and proposed distributions; committee action moved $20 million.)

- Foster care extended‑care change (trailer to HB245) — motion: add ongoing trustee & benefit payments of $420,500 (222,900 general fund; 197,600 federal funds) to implement change allowing certain youth in foster care to remain eligible through age 23. Outcome: passed; Total 16 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent/excused.

- Public school facilities fund actions (trailers to HB304/HB435 and related): multiple motions • Motion to reduce $180,822,300 from the school district facilities fund (House Bill 304 related action). Outcome: passed; Total 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused. • Motion to make a one‑time cash transfer of $330,000,000 from the general fund to the public school income fund (House Bill 435 trailer/clarifying action). Outcome: passed; Total 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent/excused.

- Literacy intervention (trailer to SB1069) — motion: add $5,000,000 from the general fund for K‑3 literacy intervention and coaching. Outcome: passed; Total 14 ayes, 4 nays, 2 absent/excused. Committee accepted requested language by unanimous consent.

- Public Utilities Commission (trailer to SB1183, Wildfire Standard of Care Act) — motion: add 2 FTP and $187,000 from the PUC dedicated fund to staff implementation and oversight related to wildfire mitigation standards. Outcome: passed; Total 15 ayes, 4 nays, 1 absent/excused.

Year‑end cash transfers and maintenance items approved

- Budget stabilization fund instruction: committee approved, by unanimous consent, language directing the state controller regarding budget stabilization fund transfers and to maintain the fund balance rather than make a deposit that would later be partially transferred out per statutory cap language.

- Bond levy equalization fund balance: motion to transfer the remaining balance (roughly $62.86 million) from the bond levy equalization fund to the general fund, netting about $37 million to the general fund after a previously directed $25 million transfer to a rural schools revolving loan fund. Outcome: passed unanimously.

- Constitutional defense fund to legislative legal defense fund: motion to transfer the remaining balance of the constitutional defense fund (about $1.13 million) into the legislative legal defense fund. Outcome: passed; Total 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent/excused.

- Governor’s emergency fund balance: motion to transfer the remaining balance (about $652,527) to the general fund. Outcome: passed; Total 16 ayes, 2 nays, 2 absent/excused.

What committee members said: several members voiced concern when votes involved drawing on dedicated funds or treating fees as appropriable revenue. Senator Michelle Wintrow said, “I am deeply concerned about the fact that we're cutting again from a dedicated fund,” expressing worries about service delays for victims and claimants. Other members emphasized accounting clarity and that some transfers were intended to align bookkeeping (for example, the $330 million transfer to make the school funding path consistent with general‑fund appropriations).

What happens next: motions approved by the joint committee will carry due‑pass recommendations and be incorporated into the final appropriation and trailer bill process as the Legislature moves toward adjournment.