Idaho Bills

Relates to the appropriation to the State Independent Living Council for fiscal year 2026.

This is the enhancement appropriation bill for the State Independent Living Council (SILC). As detailed in Table 1 of the Fiscal Note, it results in a net-zero ongoing shift in appropriations. The General Fund appropriation is increased by $11,600, while a corresponding reduction of $11,600 is made to dedicated funds. This adjustment allocates costs between the General Fund and SILC's dedicated fund and aligns with current practice.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Veterans Services for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the Division of Veterans Services provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget that include a transfer of $1,200,000 in operating expenditures to personnel costs to establish a temporary pool of nursing staff, IT maintenance and licensing, new capital outlay, replacement items, and IT hardware.

Amends and repeals existing law to transfer funds from the Empowering Parents Grant Program Fund to the General Fund and to repeal the Empowering Parents Grant Program.

This legislation repeals the Empowering Parents Grant Program as of June 30, 2025.

Amends existing law to increase the salaries of commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission, State Tax Commission, and Industrial Commission.

This legislation provides a $1.55 per hour increase, similar to other state employees, for each of the Public Utilities Commissioners, State Tax Commissioners, and Industrial Commissioners effective July 1, 2025. The salary of each of the three Public Utilities Commissioners is statutorily raised from $126,424 to $129,648. The salary of each of the four State Tax Commissioners is statutorily raised from $117,396 to $120,620. The salary of each of the three Industrial Commissioners is statutorily raised from $123,126 to $126,350.

Adds to existing law to establish certain requirements regarding the building permit process.

In an effort to ease the housing shortage and improve housing affordability, this bill requires local governments to make available building permit requirements and render building permit submissions complete or incomplete within 10 day business days.

Repeals and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding ore processing by cyanidation.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality regulates the use of cyanidation in the mining industry. This update to Idaho Code establishes requirements to ensure that cyanidation facilities contain, control, and treat cyanidation process water, spent ore, tailings and other materials to prevent discharges of cyanidation pollutants as to not impair the beneficial use of, or degrade, waters of the State. This legislation moves administrative rule into statute and updates the regulatory framework regarding the application process to provide clarity and align with current and modern industry standards. Included in the updates are additional opportunities for public review, elimination of certain redundancies with other Idaho regulations, and clarifications to application standards and timing.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Commerce for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the Department of Commerce provides enhancements to the FY 2026 budget that includes moving $140,900 in personnel costs from the Commerce Program to the Broadband Office Program. The appropriation provides a net-zero budget change to the maintenance appropriation provided to economic development agencies in Senate Bill 1109. Table 1 shows an additional $140,900 to the Broadband Office Program and reduction of $140,900 to the Commerce Program for a net-zero program transfer. Table 2 shows all the adjustments leading to the FY 2026 Total. The total budget for the Department of Commerce is $204,120,200.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Correction for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This appropriation to the Department of Correction provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget that includes appropriation for advanced surveillance technology, transport safety expansion, Recidiviz case management software, body-worn camera grant, transparency software, Pocatello CRC personnel annualization, contracted snow removal at St. Anthony Work Camp, general inflation, population driven adjustment, medical services per diem adjustment, replacement items, and Governor's initiative for a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for North Idaho. The Department of Correction requested $77,400 for training equipment at their training and development center in Meridian, which was not funded. The Department of Correction also requested $83,200 for a skid steer at St. Anthony Work Camp. This was reduced to $20,000 to pay for contracted snow removal at St. Anthony Work Camp. For FY 2025, this bill also provides an additional appropriation of $2,993,900 in the State Prisons Division for advanced surveillance technology, transport safety expansion, and a body-worn camera grant. Also provided for FY 2025 is $5,939,400 in the County and Out-of-State Placement Division for population driven adjustment, and $5,957,200 in the Medical Services Division for medical services per diem adjustment.

Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses for fiscal year 2026.

This is the enhancement appropriation bill for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses and provides an additional $1,268,900. Enhancements include an average pay increase of $0.95 per hour for inspectors in the Bureau of Building, Construction, and Real Estate, as well as the replacement of twenty-three (23) vehicles representing nineteen percent (19%) of the agency's fleet, and IT hardware recommended for replacement by the Office of Information Technology Services.

Relates to the appropriation to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the Judicial Branch provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget that includes funding for judicial compensation as proposed by House Bill 322, funding for judicial resources which are partially from Senate Bills 1028 and 1029, and additional funding for IT positions which were partially approved during the 2024 legislative session.

Relates to the appropriation to the Idaho Commission for Libraries for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the Idaho Commission for Libraries provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget. This bill includes $42,400 from the General Fund for broadband reimbursement to libraries, and $1,231,000 onetime for the digital access for all Idahoans. This bill includes reappropriation from the ARPA Capital Projects Fund for library projects, requires a report on the use of appropriated funds, requires a report on statutory adherence to Sections 18-1517B and 33-137, Idaho Code, and specifies restrictions of federal funding. This bill does not include $40,000 for an increase in federal funds to sub-grant to local libraries as requested, or the full $2,500,000 requested on an ongoing basis for the digital access for all Idahoans.

Relates to the appropriation to the Office of the State Public Defender for fiscal year 2025.

This appropriation to the Office of the State Public Defender provides enhancements to the FY 2026 budget that includes funding for Child Protective Act appropriation alignment; public defense operating budget; new institutional offices in Benewah, Elmore, Jerome, and Shoshone counties;, additional transcript costs funding; additional personnel costs funding; additional contracting costs funding; and a fund shift for CEC costs. Additionally, this appropriation bill includes FY 2025 supplemental funding for Child Protective Act appropriation alignment, additional transcript costs funding, and additional personnel and contracting costs. This appropriation does not include the Governor's total recommendation for increased contract attorney costs, resulting in a difference of approximately $6,500,000 across both fiscal years.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Independent Councils provides an enhancement to the FY 2026 maintenance budget. For FY 2026, this bill includes funding for the Domestic Violence Council to supplement the funding available to Children's Advocacy Centers. The Independent Councils include both the Domestic Violence Council and the Developmental Disabilities Council.

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2026.

This appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Divisions of Early Learning and Development and Services for the Developmentally Disabled provides enhancements to the FY 2026 maintenance budget and adjustments to the FY 2025 appropriation. For FY 2026 this bill includes funding for two enhancements, along with population forecast adjustments, a Governor's initiative for the Idaho Child Care Program, and the adjustment to move Extended Employment Services from the Services for the Developmentally Disabled Division. Enhancements include funding for year three of the START Certification and funding for the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) in the Early Learning and Development Division. In addition to this appropriation, this bill also includes $14 million for the Governor's initiative to utilize existing, previously unspent federal funds for the Idaho Child Care Program, to aid in building supply through contracted spots, grants, and subgrants, with a specific focus on addressing underserved populations. This bill includes sections of language providing guidance on federal funding limitations, directing the department's uses of the $14 million provided for the ICCP. This bill does not include $1 million that was recommended by the Governor to modernize the Idaho Child Care Check system.