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New Idaho State Public Defender office seeks millions in supplemental and ongoing funds amid rapid onboarding
Summary
Officials from the new State Public Defender told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee they need supplemental and ongoing appropriations to use a $39 million cash transfer, cover transcript costs after a state Supreme Court ruling, raise contract and personnel rates, and onboard several counties into the statewide system.
The newly created Office of the State Public Defender asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee for multiple supplemental and FY26 enhancements to fully implement its responsibilities after transitioning from the prior Public Defense Commission.
Budget analyst Christopher Lahoset outlined the agency’s structure and financing and highlighted a $39 million statutory cash transfer from the tax relief fund to a new State Public Defense Fund (cited as section 57‑8207 of Idaho Code). Lahoset said the agency’s staffing request includes authorization for 17.96 full‑time positions to support onboarding four institutional offices and a personnel budget of about $37.7 million.
Lahoset told the committee the agency requested a $2.5 million one‑time supplemental to fully utilize that $39 million cash transfer, and the governor recommended additional one‑time and…
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