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Senate Judiciary & Rules hears budget briefings on courts, corrections and state police; advances appointments and bills
Summary
Committee heard multi-agency budget briefings from Legislative Services Office and JFAC, covering judicial branch requests, Department of Correction cash pressures and population-driven supplementals, and an Idaho State Police pay-plan proposal; the panel advanced an Idaho Judicial Council appointment, multiple RS drafts, and a technical residency bill to the Senate floor.
The Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee met to receive budget briefings from the Legislative Services Office and JFAC leadership and to consider several legislative drafts and an executive appointment.
LSO analysts reviewed the judicial branch, Department of Correction and Idaho State Police budgets. Janica Bisharat of LSO told the committee the judicial branch received an appropriation of about $103.6 million in FY26 and noted a FY27 request that would add roughly $77,900 to the 2nd Judicial District’s guardian ad litem (CASA) pass-through funds to cover a trainer, recruiter, auditing expenses and lease costs. Noah Peterson, LSO’s correction analyst, described sustained declines in dedicated fund cash balances (notably the inmate labor and probation/parole receipts funds) and said population-driven growth in county and out-of-state placements and medical services has created frequent supplemental requests.
Committee members pressed analysts on vacancy reductions, collection challenges for probation fees and how population forecasts drive supplementals. Peterson said the DOC is providing monthly actuals this year to refine projections and that some costs have been delayed into the next fiscal year because of timing. The analysts also flagged an ISP proposal to increase the vehicle-registration “project choice” fee from $3 to $12 — a change Peterson estimated could generate roughly $18 million per year but would require legislative approval.
On procedure, the committee approved minutes, voted to send the gubernatorial reappointment of Michael Kennedy to the Idaho Judicial Council to the floor with a confirmation recommendation, sent two RS drafts (RS33169 and RS33172) to print for further consideration, and forwarded Senate Bill 1239 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The meeting adjourned after the final votes.
