JFAC funds Military Division upgrades, public‑safety communications and hazmat regional teams

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved a series of funding actions for the Military Division intended to accelerate public‑safety communications installations and to equip regional hazardous‑materials response teams.

Frances Lippitt, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the Military Division’s requests include one‑time funds to contract installations on Idaho State Police vehicles, build four installation bays, and purchase related equipment to increase installation throughput so vehicles could be used by year‑end.

Major fiscal actions approved - $540,001 one‑time (general fund) to contract for installation of public‑safety communication systems and to build four installation bays (motion by Senator Ward Engelking; second by Representative Handy). The committee approved the motion unanimously (20‑0). - $759,200 one‑time (general fund) to upgrade the division’s IT infrastructure and licensing to create an independent network for public‑safety communications (motion by Representative Petzke; second by Senator Ward Engelking). The motion passed with a combined roll call showing 19 ayes and 1 nay. - FY2026 enhancement package: added $66,200 general fund, $9,190,200 dedicated funds, and a reduction of $139,300 in federal funds (total increase $9,117,100) to fund a network administrator, replacement items, IT hardware, and equipment for hazmat teams. The motion passed (19–1 combined tally). - One‑time transfer of $8,600,000 from the continuously appropriated State Emergency Relief Fund to the Military Division’s miscellaneous revenue fund to provide new equipment to hazardous‑materials regional response teams housed at fire departments across the state. The motion passed on a roll call (19 ayes, 1 nay). The governor recommended the cash transfer to provide funding for this initiative.

Implementation and oversight: The motions carry due‑pass recommendations. Several motions were accompanied by analyst explanations that the funding would allow vehicles awaiting system installation to be deployed by calendar‑year end and that equipment purchases will be coordinated with local fire departments that host regional hazmat teams. The transfer of $8.6 million depends on the governor’s recommended cash transfer arrangement and agency execution of contracting and equipment procurement.

Speakers and attribution: Frances Lippitt (budget and policy analyst, Legislative Services Office) described the scope and purpose of the requests; Representative Petzke and Senator Ward Engelking sponsored motions; Representative Handy seconded a motion. Roll calls were recorded by Ms. Figueroa, committee clerk.

What’s next: With due‑pass recommendations, the actions proceed through standard legislative processing and the Military Division will follow procurement and installation timelines; specific deployment dates for equipment and vehicles were not provided in the session.