JFAC approves multiple FY2025 supplements and FY2026 enhancements, including hazmat regional response transfer

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 14 approved a series of supplemental appropriations and fiscal year 2026 enhancement requests affecting state emergency response, public safety communications, veterans services, agriculture and several state agencies.

The committee unanimously approved a $34,200 one-time transfer from the general fund to the Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Fund to cover remaining fiscal 2024 cleanup costs. It also approved supplemental funding totaling $540,001 one-time to allow public safety communications to contract installation services for Idaho State Police vehicles and $759,200 one-time to upgrade information technology infrastructure and create an independent public-safety communications network.

The committee approved a fiscal 2026 transfer of $8,600,000 from the state Emergency Relief Fund to a miscellaneous revenue fund to provide new equipment to hazardous materials regional response teams housed at local fire departments. That transfer was moved and seconded by Representative Petzke and Senator Ward Engelking and passed with a roll call recorded in the transcript that showed 19–9/20-type tallies reported as a total of 19 ayes, 1 nay at points in the House and 9 ayes, 1 nay in the Senate for several items; individual recorded totals are listed below under "Votes."

Other approvals included: - Veterans services: program maintenance and enhancements that included a $1,200,000 internal transfer from operating expenditures to personnel to create a temporary nursing staffing pool, IT and equipment requests and reappropriation authority for federal construction grants for veterans homes. - Department of Agriculture: a $1,724,300 one-time transfer from the general fund to the pest control deficiency fund for invasive species monitoring and control, and FY2026 enhancements for investigator pay, fruit and vegetable inspectors' compensation adjustments, replacement vehicles and IT hardware. - Department of Finance: five additional full-time equivalents and $765,800 from dedicated funds for examiners, cybersecurity, forensic accounting and related positions (the governor had recommended four FTP; JFAC approved five FTP and the funding shown in the record). - Department of Insurance: two positions and $533,400 from dedicated funds, including a staff actuary and a regulatory compliance specialist, plus a compensation increase for the State Fire Marshal staff and replacement items. - State Board of Education special programs: $1,414,100 from the general fund and 0.27 FTE to fund small programs including the rural educator incentive program and several small technical positions. - Health education programs: an additional $954,500 from the general fund and 2 FTE to support medical residency slots and related positions. - State Independent Living Council: a net-zero fund shift moving $11,600 from dedicated funds to the general fund to cover health benefits and CEC adjustments.

Most motions carried on roll-call votes. One motion failed: the appropriation of $50,000 from the general fund for the Office of the Health and Social Services Ombudsman did not receive a majority in the House and will be taken up later.

Votes at a glance (motion text summarized; official roll calls recorded in committee minutes): - Hazardous substance response deficiency: move one-time appropriation and transfer of $34,200 from general fund to Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Fund for FY2025. Mover: Senator Ward Engelking. Second: Rep. Petzke. Outcome: Passed. Transcript total: 20 ayes, 0 nays (reported as unanimous in the transcript roll call sequence). - Public safety communications supplemental: FY2025 one-time appropriation $540,001 for public safety communication support. Mover: Senator Ward Engelking. Second: Rep. Handy. Outcome: Passed. Transcript total: 20 ayes, 0 nays. - Public safety communications IT upgrade: FY2025 one-time appropriation $759,200 for IT infrastructure/licensing. Mover: Rep. Petzke. Second: Senator Ward Engelking. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals recorded: Senate 9 aye, 1 nay; House unanimous; combined reported as 19 ayes, 1 nay. - FY2026 Military Division package (enhancements/transfers): mover Rep. Petzke; outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: 19 ayes, 1 nay (Senate 9–1, House unanimous) and recorded as carrying a due-pass recommendation. - Transfer for hazmat regional response teams: FY2026 one-time appropriation and transfer of $8,600,000 from the continuously appropriated State Emergency Relief Fund to the miscellaneous revenue fund. Mover: Rep. Petzke. Second: Sen. Ward Engelking. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: 19 ayes, 1 nay (Senate 9–1, House unanimous) as recorded. - Veterans services FY2026 package: mover Sen. Woodward. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: 19 ayes, 1 nay (Senate 9–1, House unanimous) as recorded. - Department of Agriculture FY2025 deficiency: move one-time appropriation/transfer of $1,724,300 from general fund to pest control deficiency fund. Mover: Rep. Handy. Second: Sen. Hart. Outcome: Passed. Transcript reported as unanimous (20–0). - Department of Agriculture FY2026 enhancements and replacements (crew pay structure, CEC adjustments, replacement items): mover Rep. Cook. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: Senate 8 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent; House unanimous; combined reported as 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent. - Department of Finance FY2026 enhancements (5 FTP, $765,800 from dedicated funds): mover Sen. Hart. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: Senate 8 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent; House unanimous; recorded combined 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent. - Department of Insurance FY2026 enhancements and replacements (2 FTP, $533,400 from dedicated funds): mover Rep. Furness. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: Senate 8 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent; House unanimous; recorded combined 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent. - State Board of Education special programs FY2026 package (including rural educator incentive): mover Sen. Carlson. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: Senate 8 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent; House unanimous; combined 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent. - Health education programs: mover Rep. Petsky. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: Senate 8 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent; House unanimous; combined 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent. - State Independent Living Council fund shift: mover Rep. Furness. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: Senate 9 aye, 1 nay; House 9 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; combined 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent. - Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Indirect Support Services FY2026 replacement and IT requests (including language requiring a vehicle fleet report): mover Rep. Mitchell. Outcome: Passed. Transcript totals: Senate 9 aye, 1 nay; House 8 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent; combined recorded as majority in favor. - Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman: mover Sen. Wintrow to add $50,000 from the general fund. Outcome: Failed in the House (Senate 8 aye, 2 nay; House 5 aye, 2 nay, 3 absent); the record states the motion failed and will be taken up later.

Why it matters: The package consolidates near-term spending for emergency response, public safety communications and veterans' facilities and advances staffing, replacement equipment and IT upgrades across multiple agencies—actions that will affect implementation timelines and agency operations in fiscal 2025 and 2026.

What’s next: Most items carried a "due pass" recommendation and will be integrated into the committee’s final FY2026 budget recommendations and subsequent legislation or appropriations bills.