Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: S1387 – Idaho State Historical Society FY2027 Appropriation
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 1387 appropriates $486,300 from the Miscellaneous Revenue Fund to the Idaho State Historical Society for fiscal year 2027, covering $450,000 in operating expenditures and $36,300 in capital outlay. The $36,300 capital outlay figure is the specific new addition this bill inserts into law.
The bill also grants reappropriation authority, allowing any unexpended and unencumbered General Fund balances from FY2026 to carry forward into FY2027 for nonrecurring moving costs. The Office of the State Controller must confirm the reappropriation amount with the Legislative Services Office before processing.
The bill declares an emergency and takes effect July 1, 2026, aligning with the start of the state’s fiscal year.
Overall Assessment
This bill increases state spending by adding $36,300 in capital outlay funding to the Idaho State Historical Society’s FY2027 appropriation, on top of an existing $450,000 operating expenditure allocation. The primary concern is fiscal: the appropriation expands government expenditure beyond what existing law already provided, without a demonstrated constitutional mandate requiring this level of spending. Taxpayers bear the cost of both the new capital outlay and any carried-forward moving expenses reappropriated from FY2026.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. Responsibility in Government (-1)
Section 1 inserts $36,300 in capital outlay funding, adding to the $450,000 already appropriated for operating expenditures and bringing the total supplemental appropriation to $486,300 from the Miscellaneous Revenue Fund. This increases government spending beyond existing appropriations without a clear constitutional obligation requiring the expenditure, running counter to the principle that the legislature should limit spending to essential functions and avoid growing the size of government.
ARTICLE II. Citizen Involvement in Government (0)
This bill is a targeted appropriations measure for the Idaho State Historical Society and contains no provisions affecting citizen participation in government, voting procedures, primaries, or civic engagement mechanisms.
ARTICLE III. Education (0)
The bill funds Historical Society operations and capital outlay but does not address school choice, parental rights in education, curriculum standards, teacher policy, or any other education-specific provisions.
ARTICLE IV. Agriculture (0)
The bill contains no provisions related to agricultural policy, farming, ranching, water rights for agricultural use, or support for family farms.
ARTICLE V. Water (0)
The bill makes no reference to water rights, water appropriation, inter-basin transfers, reservoirs, dams, or federal interference in Idaho water management.
ARTICLE VI. Natural Resources and Environment (0)
Appropriating funds to the Idaho State Historical Society has no bearing on natural resource management, environmental policy, federal land control, or multiple-use stewardship principles.
ARTICLE VII. Energy (0)
The bill contains no provisions addressing energy policy, energy independence, hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, or opposition to energy mandates.
ARTICLE VIII. Idaho National Laboratories (0)
The bill does not reference the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, technology transfer, or any related energy research and development activities.
ARTICLE IX. Private Property Rights (0)
The bill contains no provisions affecting private property rights, eminent domain, regulatory takings, or due process protections for property owners.
ARTICLE X. State and Federal Lands (0)
The appropriation to the Historical Society is unrelated to land ownership disputes, federal land management, or efforts to transfer federal lands to state control.
ARTICLE XI. Wildlife Management (0)
The bill makes no mention of fish, game, hunting, predator control, or wildlife conservation policy.
ARTICLE XII. Economy (0)
While the bill involves a government expenditure, it does not address commerce, small business regulation, labor policy, transportation infrastructure, or free-market economic principles in any direct way.
ARTICLE XIII. Health and Welfare (0)
The bill contains no provisions related to health care delivery, insurance markets, welfare programs, or conscience protections in medical settings.
ARTICLE XIV. American Family (0)
The bill's appropriation to the Historical Society has no bearing on family values, parental rights, marriage policy, right-to-life issues, or child welfare protections.
ARTICLE XV. Older Americans (0)
The bill contains no provisions targeting services, benefits, or policies specifically affecting older Idahoans.
ARTICLE XVI. Law and Order with Justice (0)
The bill does not address criminal justice, gun rights, drug policy, incarceration, law enforcement, or state sovereignty in legal matters.
ARTICLE XVII. National Defense - Securing the Border (0)
The bill contains no provisions related to military affairs, veterans' services, the National Guard, border security, or immigration enforcement.
ARTICLE XVIII. Election of Judges and Idaho Supreme Court Justices (0)
The bill is an appropriations measure with no connection to judicial elections, the selection or retention of judges, textualism, or originalism in constitutional interpretation.
ARTICLE XIX. Religious Liberty (0)
The bill contains no provisions affecting the free exercise of religion, religious exemptions, conscience clauses, or any related religious liberty protections.