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JFAC approves multiple military division supplements, IT upgrades and hazmat funding
Summary
The committee approved supplemental appropriations and FY2026 enhancements for the Military Division, including hazardous substance reimbursement, public safety communications installation and IT upgrades, and an $8.6 million transfer for regional hazmat response equipment.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 14 approved several supplemental and FY2026 budget items for Idaho's Military Division, which oversees the Idaho National Guard, the Office of Emergency Management, public safety communications and related programs.
Frances Lippitt, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, presented an initial deficiency warrant: the Office of Emergency Management had recovered $62,800 of FY2024 hazardous materials cleanup costs and requested reimbursement of the remaining $34,200 from the general fund. Senator Ward Engelking moved the one-time appropriation and transfer of $34,200 from the general fund to the Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Fund for FY2025; Representative Petzke seconded. The committee recorded a unanimous vote: 20 ayes, 0 nays, and the motion carried with a due-pass recommendation.
Lippitt also presented a supplemental request to allow public safety communications to contract for installation of systems and to build four installation bays and buy equipment to increase installation throughput so Idaho State Police vehicles could be put into service by year end. Senator Ward Engelking moved a one-time appropriation of $540,001 from the general fund for public safety communications support; Representative Handy seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 20-0.
A separate one-time appropriation of $759,200 was approved to upgrade the division's IT infrastructure and create an independent network for public safety communications. Representative Petzke moved the appropriation and Senator Ward Engelking seconded. The motion passed with a combined tally of 19 ayes, 1 nay.
For FY2026, the committee approved a package of requested enhancements that included funding shifts and replacement items, plus a major proposal to provide $8.6 million to equip hazardous materials regional response teams housed at local fire departments. Representative Petzke moved the FY2026 enhancements (a net increase that included a $66,200 general fund increase, $9,190,200 from dedicated funds, and a $139,300 reduction in federal funds for a net $9,117,100 increase), and later moved a one-time appropriation and transfer of $8,600,000 from the continuously appropriated State Emergency Relief Fund to the Military Division's miscellaneous revenue fund for regional hazmat equipment. Both FY2026 motions carried with the same recorded pattern: 19 ayes, 1 nay, 0 absent, and both carried due-pass recommendations.
Committee members noted a disclosure: Representative Petzke declared a rule-of-80 conflict, stating she serves on the board of a company that supplies some of the equipment described; the declaration was entered into the record.
The actions authorize the division to proceed with installations, IT upgrades and equipment purchases intended to expand capacity for public safety communications and regional hazardous-materials response.
