Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0924 – State Liquor Division FY2027 Capital Appropriation
Bill Summary
House Bill 924 appropriates an additional $1,673,000 from the Liquor Control Fund to the State Liquor Division for fiscal year 2027. The appropriation is divided between $498,300 for operating expenditures and $1,174,700 for capital outlay. The sole textual change to existing law is the insertion of the capital outlay figure of $1,174,700.
The bill declares an emergency, making it effective July 1, 2026, the start of the fiscal year. This supplemental appropriation is brought forward by the Appropriations Committee to fund the Division’s capital needs beyond what was previously authorized.
Overall Assessment
This bill expands state government spending by $1,673,000 for the State Liquor Division, with the bulk—$1,174,700—directed toward capital outlay. The increased appropriation grows the footprint of a state-run agency funded through the Liquor Control Fund, running counter to principles of limiting government expenditure and keeping the size of government in check.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. Responsibility in Government (-1)
Section 1 of the bill appropriates an additional $1,673,000 to the State Liquor Division, including $1,174,700 in new capital outlay spending. This expansion of state agency expenditures conflicts with the principle that government should be limited in size and cost to taxpayers, even though the funds come from the Liquor Control Fund rather than general revenues.
ARTICLE II. Citizen Involvement in Government (0)
This bill is a targeted appropriation to a state agency and makes no changes to citizen participation, elections, voting procedures, or political engagement. It has no bearing on how Idahoans interact with their government.
ARTICLE III. Education (0)
The bill directs funds exclusively to the State Liquor Division and contains no provisions related to education, schools, curriculum, or parental rights in education.
ARTICLE IV. Agriculture (0)
The bill is a liquor division appropriation with no connection to farming, ranching, agricultural markets, or related policy. No agricultural interests are affected.
ARTICLE V. Water (0)
The bill concerns funding for the State Liquor Division and makes no reference to water rights, water management, irrigation, or related policy matters.
ARTICLE VI. Natural Resources and Environment (0)
This appropriation bill is limited to liquor division funding and has no connection to natural resource management, environmental regulation, or land stewardship policy.
ARTICLE VII. Energy (0)
The bill appropriates funds to the State Liquor Division and contains no provisions touching energy production, regulation, rates, or independence.
ARTICLE VIII. Idaho National Laboratories (0)
This bill is a liquor division appropriation and has no connection to the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, or related technology and energy policy.
ARTICLE IX. Private Property Rights (0)
The bill makes no changes to property rights, eminent domain, takings, or due process protections for property owners. It is a straightforward agency appropriation.
ARTICLE X. State and Federal Lands (0)
The bill appropriates funds to the State Liquor Division and contains no provisions related to state or federal land ownership, management, or transfer.
ARTICLE XI. Wildlife Management (0)
This appropriation has no connection to wildlife management, hunting, fishing, predator control, or fish and game policy.
ARTICLE XII. Economy (0)
While the bill increases state spending, it operates within the existing state-run liquor system and does not alter business regulation, labor policy, taxation, or market competition in any meaningful way. The appropriation is internal to an existing agency structure and does not shift economic policy.
ARTICLE XIII. Health and Welfare (0)
The bill funds capital and operating expenditures for the State Liquor Division and makes no changes to healthcare, health insurance, welfare programs, or individual health policy.
ARTICLE XIV. American Family (0)
This appropriation bill contains no provisions related to family policy, marriage, parental rights, abortion, or child welfare. It is a fiscal measure only.
ARTICLE XV. Older Americans (0)
The bill makes no changes to programs, policies, or services affecting older Idahoans. It is limited to a liquor division funding appropriation.
ARTICLE XVI. Law and Order with Justice (0)
The bill does not address criminal justice, law enforcement, gun rights, sentencing, or constitutional protections in the justice system. It is a capital and operating appropriation to a state agency.
ARTICLE XVII. National Defense - Securing the Border (0)
This bill appropriates funds to the State Liquor Division and has no connection to national defense, border security, military readiness, or veterans' affairs.
ARTICLE XVIII. Election of Judges and Idaho Supreme Court Justices (0)
The bill contains no provisions related to judicial selection, judicial elections, or constitutional interpretation. It is a targeted agency appropriation.
ARTICLE XIX. Religious Liberty (0)
The bill makes no changes to religious freedom protections, conscience clauses, or government interference with religious practice. It is solely a fiscal appropriation measure.