JFAC approves program-maintenance budgets across state agencies; most motions unanimous

The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Jan. 17 advanced program-maintenance appropriations and accompanying statutory/administrative language for multiple state agencies and functional areas. Committee analysts presented comparative base-budget reports and recommended program-maintenance totals that incorporate the FY2026 base plus two statewide adjustments (contract inflation and cost-allocation), where applicable.

Analysts leading presentations included Mr. Bybee (overview and legislative/judicial branches), Frances Lippitt (general government), Brooke Dupree (economic development), Janet Jessup (natural resources, State Board of Education), Jared Tetrault (public schools), and Alex Williamson (Health and Human Services reorganization). Motions to set program-maintenance budgets and to include draft clear-language sections were made for each packet and received roll-call votes.

Most program-maintenance measures passed unanimously in combined roll calls (reported as 20 ayes, 0 nays) and carried “do pass” recommendations. Examples of unanimous committee action included:

- Legislative branch program maintenance: set at $12,546,100 (motion carried 20–0). - Judicial branch program maintenance: set at $96,696,300 (motion carried 20–0). - Constitutional officers (six statewide elected offices): set at $73,630,300 with FTP cap (motion carried 20–0). - Public safety agencies: program maintenance totaling roughly $528,074,000 and FTP cap (motion carried 20–0). - Economic development functional area: program maintenance set at $1,380,135,600 and FTP cap (motion carried 20–0). - Natural resources: program maintenance set at $513,855,000 and FTP cap (motion carried 20–0). - State Board of Education packet (higher education, colleges/universities, K–12 related programs): program maintenance set at $1,099,940,000 and partial FTP caps as shown (motion carried 20–0). - Public school support (statutory allocations): program maintenance set at $3,166,965,700 (motion carried 20–0).

Several standard-language and reappropriation sections also were approved across packets, including reappropriation authority for ARPA/state fiscal recovery funds, continuous-appropriation provisions for specific funds (lottery payouts, maintenance reserves), and reporting/accountability requirements that staff and agencies must satisfy.

Two items drew recorded dissent or split votes:

- Health and Welfare organization realignment (budget appropriation-unit name changes and creation of a new budget unit for Idaho Childcare Program): the committee approved the requested realignment, but Representative Petzke announced he would vote no because he said he did not have sufficient time to review large transfers and FTP changes. Official roll-call result recorded: Senate 10 ayes, 0 nays; House 8 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent excused; total 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent excused.

- The larger program-maintenance motion for Health and Human Services (the fiscal totals and FTP cap across Health & Welfare and the State Independent Living Council) passed with two recorded nays after Senator Ziederfeld changed her vote during the roll call. The final combined tally reported in the transcript was 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent excused.

Committee chairs and analysts emphasized these votes set ongoing operating budgets and that separately decided items — for example, classification of CEC (cost-of-living/compensation) and health insurance decisions — were unresolved and will be taken up later. Members and staff said the committee will reconvene to review drafted appropriation bills for technical corrections before introduction and to consider outstanding compensation and health-benefit items when there is agreement.

Votes at a glance (selected motions and reported tallies): - Legislative branch program maintenance — Passed, 20–0. - Judicial branch program maintenance — Passed, 20–0. - Constitutional officers program maintenance — Passed, 20–0. - Public safety program maintenance — Passed, 20–0. - General government program maintenance (including State Controller, Capitol Commission actions) — Passed, 20–0. - Economic development program maintenance — Passed, 20–0. - Natural resources program maintenance — Passed, 20–0. - State Board of Education program maintenance — Passed, 20–0. - Public school support program maintenance (statutory allocations) — Passed, 20–0. - Health & Human Services appropriation-unit realignment — Passed, Senate 10–0; House 8–1 (1 absent); overall 18–1–1. - Health & Human Services overall program-maintenance appropriation (dollar totals and FTP cap) — Passed, final combined tally 17 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent excused.

Ending: Committee staff said they will post drafted appropriation bills for the motions passed today and schedule a review hearing next Friday to consider technical corrections before bills are introduced to the full legislature. The committee also deferred unresolved CEC and health-insurance compensation decisions to a later meeting.