Joint committee advances several FY2027 budget items for education, building projects and CTE; some substitute motions fail

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee took a series of votes on FY2027 budget items across higher education, career and technical education, administration and capital projects, advancing multiple pass recommendations to the full budget process.

Office of the State Board of Education: Kevin Campbell presented the request covering Canvas LMS renewal, transfer of risk managers to institutions, and a federal postsecondary grant. A motion to add $487,900 from the general fund and $4,000,000 in one-time federal funds (and reduce 4 FTE) carried on committee roll calls and was reported as a pass recommendation.

Colleges and universities: The committee debated an alternative substitute motion that would have restored an FY2027 rescission and added several million dollars to four institutions — including specific allocations for Boise State University and the University of Idaho — using a transfer from a school district building fund. That substitute failed in committee; the original motion restoring some rescissions and allocating a smaller net total passed and was carried as a pass recommendation.

Community colleges: Lawmakers discussed that the action was a one-time restoration of a prior rescission to return community colleges to last year’s funding level. The motion to restore the rescission and add funding by campus carried after debate about one-time versus ongoing support.

Career & Technical Education (CTE): The committee considered two approaches to restoring a 2% cut to CTE secondary programs: a one-time restoration from interest in the Career Ready Students Fund and an ongoing general-fund restoration. Representative Penske and others said they would support both but raised concerns about using one-time funds for an ongoing gap. The committee recorded votes on both options and ultimately advanced a motion that was reported as carried where noted.

Department of Administration and procurement staffing: Analyst Frances Lippett described four requested enhancements including moving $365,000 in utilities costs to agency dedicated funds and adding three purchasing positions to manage Medicaid procurement in advance of Medicaid’s transition to managed care. Senator Galloway voiced concern about relying on a small procurement team to manage large contracts; some motions failed because the house or senate committee did not achieve a majority, and others advanced.

Permanent Building Fund and capital projects: The permanent building fund advisory council recommended $890,100 as the state match to design a National Guard readiness center in Bonneville County and roughly $71.6 million for replacement/repair/ADA/campus maintenance projects; the committee approved the package and accepted standard reporting language by unanimous consent.

State lottery: The committee approved a small FY2027 request ($25,800) for replacement desktop and laptop equipment used in scratch-game design.

Votes at a glance (selected motions reported in committee): - Health education/GME: Pass recommendation (motion: +$900,000, +2.5 FTEs). - Office of State Board of Education: Pass recommendation (+$487,900 general fund, +$4,000,000 federal; -4 FTE). - Colleges & universities: Original motion passed after substitute failed (net adjustments and restorations, reported total varied in debate). - Community colleges: Motion to restore rescission passed (one-time restoration). - CTE secondary programs: Committee considered one-time Career Ready Students Fund option and an ongoing general fund option; votes were taken and reported as recorded in the minutes. - Permanent building fund: Pass recommendation for readiness center design match and replacement items.

The committee adjourned and will reconvene the next day. The actions recorded are pass recommendations to the full budget process; final appropriations will be decided later in the legislative schedule.