JFAC approves multiple agency budgets and one-time funds for hazmat response and public-safety communications; ombudsman request fails in House

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee (JFAC) advanced a series of supplemental appropriations and FY2026 budget adjustments across state agencies in a session that included roll calls on dozens of motions and several requests for reporting language.

Committee members approved one‑time and ongoing funding for hazardous‑materials response, public‑safety communications, upgrades to military IT infrastructure, and a cash transfer to fund regional hazardous‑materials response teams. The panel also approved budget increases for veterans services, agriculture invasive‑species response, finance and insurance staffing enhancements, higher‑education special programs, and multiple health‑education residency items. One motion to add $50,000 for the Office of Health and Human Services ombudsman failed to carry in the House.

Why it matters: The votes allocate operating or one‑time funds that must be reflected in the 2025–26 budget and create reporting or legislative study requirements for some Health & Welfare programs. Several motions also authorized transfers from continuously appropriated funds into agency revenue funds, enabling new equipment purchases and staffing changes that affect service delivery timelines.

Key outcomes (selected motions and roll calls) - Hazardous‑substance emergency response: The committee approved a one‑time appropriation and transfer of $34,200 from the general fund to the Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Fund (motion by Senator Ward Engelking; second by Representative Petzke). Vote: 20‑0 in favor. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Public‑safety communications support: The committee approved $540,001 one‑time from the general fund to allow public‑safety communications to contract for installations and build four installation bays (motion by Senator Ward Engelking; second by Representative Handy). Vote: 20‑0 in favor. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Military IT upgrade (one‑time $759,200): Approved to upgrade IT infrastructure and create an independent public‑safety communications network (motion by Representative Petzke; second by Senator Ward Engelking). Vote: combined Senate/House: 19 ayes, 1 nay. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Transfer to support hazmat regional teams ($8.6 million): Approved a one‑time transfer of $8,600,000 from the continuously appropriated State Emergency Relief Fund to the Military Division’s miscellaneous revenue fund for hazardous‑materials regional response teams (motion by Representative Petzke; second by Senator Ward Engelking). Vote: 19 ayes, 1 nay. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Veterans services FY2026 adjustments: Approved a package including a $1.2 million transfer for temporary nursing staffing pools, IT, replacement items and reappropriation authority for federal construction grants (motion by Senator Woodward; second by Representative Handy). Vote: 19 ayes, 1 nay. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Department of Agriculture supplemental (pest control deficiency): Approved a one‑time appropriation and transfer of $1,724,300 from the general fund to the Pest Control Deficiency Fund for invasive/exotic species response (motion by Representative Handy; second by Senator Hart). Vote: 20‑0 in favor. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Department of Finance and Department of Insurance staffing enhancements: The committee approved dedicated‑fund staffing increases and related IT hardware for both agencies (motions by Senator Hart and Representative Furness; seconds recorded). Combined vote patterns were largely affirmative; several roll calls showed 8–9 ayes, one nay, and one absent in the Senate with unanimous House support where recorded. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendations. - State Board of Education, special programs: Approved multiple small enhancements including rural educator incentive funding and a database manager position (motion by Senator Carlson; second by Representative Price). Vote: passed (Senate tally 8 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent; House largely affirmative). Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Licensing and certification language and study: The committee approved intent language that (1) exempts the Department of Health and Welfare’s Licensing and Certification program from a restriction on personnel cost transfers for contract nurses and (2) requires a January JFAC report and draft legislation about potential transfer of the program to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). The FY2026 language passed after roll call (motion introduced after a unanimous‑consent request was objected to). Vote: 16 ayes, 2 nays, 2 absent. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Health & Welfare indirect services and vehicle‑fleet reporting: The committee approved replacement and IT items for Indirect Support Services and adopted language requiring a December 15 report to JFAC on state vehicle utilization and fleet counts. Vote results carried; language accepted by unanimous consent on the motion that included the report timeline. Outcome: passed; due‑pass recommendation. - Office of Health and Human Services Ombudsman: A motion to add $50,000 from the general fund for salary increases failed to pass the House. Senate vote: 8 ayes, 2 nays. House vote: 5 ayes, 2 nays, 3 absent/abstain. Outcome: failed; will be taken up later.

What the committee asked for or required: Several motions included legislative‑intent language or reporting requirements. Notable examples include the directive that the Department of Health and Welfare and DOPL prepare a JFAC report and draft legislation about the Licensing and Certification program, and a December 15 report on vehicle utilization from Health & Welfare.

Context and next steps: Most motions carried with due‑pass recommendations; JFAC’s recommendations advance to whatever next procedural step applies under Idaho legislative rules. Several items depended on fund transfers (including a transfer from a continuously appropriated emergency fund) or on federal grant reappropriations, which may affect agency implementation timing. The ombudsman funding request will be reconsidered at a later date because it failed in the House.

Speakers (selected, for attribution only): Keith Bybee, division manager, Budget Policy Analysis; Frances Lippitt, budget and policy analyst, Legislative Services; Senator Ward Engelking; Representative Petzke; Representative Handy; Senator Cook; Representative Price; Senator Hart; Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst; Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst; Ms. Williamson (Legislative Services analyst); Ms. Figueroa (committee clerk).