Bill Analyses and Ratings

Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 249 provides the fiscal year 2026 budget for Idaho’s six constitutional officers: the Attorney General, State Controller, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. The total appropriation is $76,026,600, distributed across general and dedicated funds for core personnel, operating, and special program costs.

Key elements include:

• $35M to the Attorney General, including support for state legal services, internet crimes against children, and special litigation. This includes both General Fund and federal grant support.
• $25M to the State Controller, funding financial systems, accounting, enterprise operations, and the state’s data processing center.
• $4.75M to the Executive Office of the Governor, including administrative and emergency funds.
• $5.2M to the Secretary of State, including voter outreach, uniform law participation, and election-related duties.
• $5.4M to the State Treasurer, covering financial operations, local government investment pool (LGIP), unclaimed property, and banking service fees.
• Includes reappropriation authority for unspent funds related to:
  • Behavioral health data system development.
  • Computer center infrastructure upgrades.
• Grants expense transfer flexibility to improve agency efficiency without increasing funding.

Reason for Rating:

HB 249 reflects fiscal discipline, government accountability, and structural transparency, key principles of the Idaho Republican Party Platform. The bill does not expand government services or launch new programs; it funds constitutionally required functions efficiently and provides tools for operational flexibility. It also preserves the Legislature’s role in overseeing fund transfers and limits agency overreach