JFAC approves program‑maintenance budgets and technical corrections; CEC and health‑insurance decisions deferred

BOISE — The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Friday approved a package of technical corrections and program‑maintenance budgets affecting nearly every state agency, adopting reappropriation changes, budget realignments and operating baselines while postponing final decisions on cost‑of‑living (CEC) and health‑insurance adjustments.

The committee voted on individual technical corrections early in the session, then moved through program‑maintenance appropriations for the legislative and judicial branches, constitutional officers, public safety, general government, economic development, natural resources, the State Board of Education, public schools and Health and Human Services. Most measures passed on roll call with bipartisan support. Committee leadership said outstanding CEC and health‑insurance numbers will be taken up at a later date.

Why it matters: The maintenance budgets set the baseline funding that agencies will use to prepare detailed agency hearings and possible enhancements later in the session. Reappropriation corrections improve transparency by placing one‑time or grant funds in the correct fund codes; the deferred CEC and health‑insurance items could affect salaries and benefit funding across multiple agencies.

Votes at a glance (key motions adopted)

- Department of Commerce / Broadband reappropriation (technical correction, net $0): Two motions moved reappropriated funds ($291,737,000) out of the Commerce program and into the new Broadband Office so the dollars are tracked in the correct fund. Motion(s): removal and re‑addition to Broadband Office. Outcome: passed (Senate and House recorded unanimous support; committee reported 20 ayes, 0 nays on each motion). Mover: Representative Handy; second: Senator Cook.

- Department of Environmental Quality correction (technical correction, $2,000,000): Motion to transfer $2,000,000 from the general fund into the DEQ general fund (to correct a prior transaction). Outcome: passed (reported 20 ayes, 0 nays). Mover: Senator Woodward; second: Representative Manwaring.

- Department of Health and Welfare — two expenditure‑category corrections (trustee/benefit payments → operating expenditures): Substance‑abuse program ($160,000) and Physical Health Services/central tumor registry ($240,000). Outcome: both passed (reported 20 ayes, 0 nays). Mover: Representative Price; second: Senator Bierke.

- Legislative Branch program maintenance: Program maintenance appropriation adopted (total program maintenance $12,546,100; general fund $10,003,100; no FTP cap). Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Representative Miller; second: Senator Ward Engelking.

- Judicial Branch program maintenance: Adopted (total approx. $96.7 million; includes reappropriation authority of up to $16,222,000 for court technology). Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Senator Carlson; second: Representative Mitchell.

- Constitutional officers (six statewide elected offices): Program maintenance and specified reappropriations, including data processing and behavioral health reporting carryovers. Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Representative Tanner; second: Senator Bierke.

- Public safety: Program maintenance adopted (cap 3,322.61 FTPs; total maintenance approx. $528,074,000). Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Senator Wintrow; second: Representative Handy.

- General government: Program maintenance and 13 language sections (including ARPA reappropriations, Capitol Commission transfers, workforce grants). Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Representative Miller; second: Senator Galloway.

- Economic development functional area: Program maintenance adopted (total approx. $1.380 billion; FTP cap 4,165.28). Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Senator Woodward; second: Representative Furness.

- Natural resources: Program maintenance and targeted reappropriations (including Bunker Hill mine remediation reporting and transfers). Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Representative Manwaring; second: Senator Ziderfeld.

- State Board of Education (including colleges/universities, special programs): Program maintenance adopted (total approx. $1.0999 billion; FTP caps described). Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Senator Ward Engelking; second: Representative Petzke.

- Public schools program maintenance: Adopted the baseline appropriations and 24 language sections that codify distribution/definition rules for items such as discretionary funds, classroom technology, English‑learner distributions and advanced opportunity reporting. Outcome: passed (20‑0). Mover: Representative Miller; second: Senator Woodward.

- Health and Human Services: Realignment of appropriation units to reflect the department reorganization (including a new Idaho Childcare Program appropriation unit) and program maintenance totals. Outcome: passed with two dissenting votes in combined roll calls; final reported combined tally was 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent/excused. Mover: Representative Tanner; second: Senator Cook.

What was deferred: Committee leadership announced the group did not reach consensus on CEC (cost‑of‑living) numbers and health‑insurance updates during earlier meetings; those items remain unresolved and will be considered at a future meeting once staff and work groups reach agreement.

Process notes: Most votes were carried unanimously; where roll‑call tallies were read aloud, staff recited the Senate and House counts (many motions recorded as 20 ayes, 0 nays). On the largest action (Health and Human Services realignment and maintenance totals) the recorded combined vote included opposing votes and one excused absence; Representative Petzke explained his “no” vote as a desire for more time to review large transfers and reorganizations.

Ending: The committee recessed for the weekend with instructions that once staff prepare draft bills reflecting today’s actions, members will have an opportunity for a review vote on technical language before bills move to the floor.