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Senate committee backs H 587 to allow continuous spending for rangeland projects; 6–2 roll call
Summary
The committee voted 6–2 to send H 587 (Rangeland Improvement) to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation; the bill clarifies that rangeland improvement funds are continuously appropriated to prevent loss of federal or other funding.
Chairman Burtenshaw introduced H 587, which amends existing law to allow continuous appropriation of the rangeland improvement account so projects can proceed without losing funding due to appropriation timing. He said the 2024 Idaho Rangeland Improvement Act did not include continuous spending authority and cited instances where funding was lost because of unclear spending authority across agencies.
Senator Okuniewicz and Senator Kohl voiced concern that continuous appropriation could cede the Legislature’s authority to appropriate; Senator Guthrie reserved the right to change his vote on the floor. Senator Cook, who moved the do-pass recommendation, and Senator Harris, who seconded it, argued the authority would function like Idaho’s continuously appropriated fire budget and would be administered through JFAC. The roll-call vote recorded six yeas (Burtenshaw, Guthrie, Harris, Cook, VanOrden, Taylor) and two nays (Okuniewicz, Kohl); the motion passed and the bill advanced to the floor.
