Joint committee advances multiple Idaho Department of Correction supplementals and fiscal‑2026 requests; mixed success in Senate

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee considered a package of supplemental funding requests and fiscal‑2026 budget enhancements for the Idaho Department of Correction on Feb. 28, 2025, approving most measures but seeing several fail to reach a majority in the Senate Finance Committee.

The committee approved emergency (FY2025) supplementals that the department said were prompted in part by a March 2024 shooting and escape attempt. Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the supplemental requests were intended to "patch vulnerabilities" identified after the incident and to meet population and medical cost pressures across the prison system.

Major FY2025 supplementals approved included: - Advanced surveillance technology (digital mail scanning, drone detection, phone call transcription/analysis): one‑time $795,000. Vote: Senate committee 9 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused; House committee 8 aye, 2 nay; total 17 ayes, 3 nays. The motion passed and will be sent to the floors with a due‑pass recommendation.

- Transport safety expansion (expand transport safety bureau to handle emergency inmate transport; includes 12 personnel and 7 vehicles outfitting): one‑time $1,148,000. Vote: Senate 8 aye, 2 nay; House 7 aye, 3 nay; total 15 ayes, 5 nays. Motion passed and will be sent to the floors with a due‑pass recommendation.

- Body‑worn camera pilot (year‑1 equipment/licenses;…