Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0949 – FY2027 Workforce & STEM Appropriations Adjustment
Bill Summary
House Bill 949 restructures appropriations for two Idaho state agencies for fiscal year 2027. For the Workforce Development Council, the bill appropriates $3,084,200 from the General Fund and $1,150,000 from the In-Demand Careers Fund, while simultaneously reducing $1,150,000 from that same In-Demand Careers Fund — shifting the spending mix away from personnel and operating costs toward trustee and benefit payments. The bill also authorizes six additional full-time equivalent positions at the Workforce Development Council.
For the STEM Action Center, the bill moves in the opposite direction: it cuts $5,990,500 in total appropriations for FY2027 across the General Fund and STEM Education Fund, and eliminates seven full-time equivalent positions. Section 6 also retroactively reduces the STEM Action Center’s FY2026 appropriation by $76,400 from the General Fund, covering operating expenditures and trustee and benefit payments. That retroactive cut takes effect immediately upon passage under an emergency declaration, while the FY2027 changes take effect July 1, 2026.
Overall, the bill significantly downsizes the STEM Action Center while reorganizing funding and staffing for the Workforce Development Council. The net effect is a reallocation of state resources away from STEM education programming and toward workforce development activities, with the STEM Action Center absorbing both an immediate retroactive budget cut and substantial reductions to its future-year appropriations and personnel.
Overall Assessment
House Bill 949 received a total score of 1, with its only positive rating coming under Article I, Responsibility in Government. The bill’s most significant policy impact is the substantial reduction in government spending and staffing at the STEM Action Center, which aligns with core principles of fiscal restraint and right-sizing government. While the bill does add positions and reorganize funding at the Workforce Development Council, the net effect across both agencies is a meaningful decrease in total appropriations and full-time equivalent positions.
Its impact is confined to the fiscal and administrative operations of the Workforce Development Council and the STEM Action Center.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. Responsibility in Government (1)
The bill reduces government spending and staffing. Section 4 reduces the STEM Action Center's appropriation by $5,990,500 total. Section 5 reduces FTE positions by 7 at the STEM Action Center. Section 6 further reduces the STEM Action Center's FY2026 appropriation by $76,400. Section 2 reduces $1,150,000 from the Workforce Development Council's In-Demand Careers Fund. While Section 1 appropriates additional funds and Section 3 adds 6 FTE positions to the Workforce Development Council, the net effect across both agencies is a significant reduction in government spending and positions. This aligns with Article I, Section 1.A ('the size and cost of government...must be reduced'), Section 1.D ('We endorse the review of all government programs'), and Section 5.B ('holding taxes down...refusing to grant excessive demands for increased spending').
ARTICLE II. Citizen Involvement in Government (0)
This bill addresses internal agency appropriations and staffing levels and does not contain provisions related to citizen involvement, public participation, or civic engagement in government processes. No scoring impact is warranted under this metric.
ARTICLE III. Education (0)
Although the bill reduces funding for the STEM Action Center, which has an educational mission, the bill is purely an appropriations measure that restructures agency budgets rather than establishing or modifying education policy. The changes do not directly address curriculum, school governance, parental rights in education, or other substantive education policy matters covered by this metric.
ARTICLE IV. Agriculture (0)
This bill contains no provisions related to agriculture, farming, ranching, or rural land use. It is an appropriations bill focused solely on the Workforce Development Council and the STEM Action Center, and therefore has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE V. Water (0)
This bill contains no provisions related to water rights, water management, irrigation, or water policy. Its scope is limited to agency appropriations and staffing, and it has no bearing on this metric.
ARTICLE VI. Natural Resources and Environment (0)
This bill does not address natural resources, environmental regulation, or conservation policy. The appropriations changes it makes are confined to workforce development and STEM education agencies, and no scoring impact is warranted under this metric.
ARTICLE VII. Energy (0)
This bill contains no provisions related to energy production, energy policy, or energy infrastructure. It is an appropriations measure with no relevance to this metric.
ARTICLE VIII. Idaho National Laboratories (0)
This bill does not reference or affect the Idaho National Laboratories, nuclear research, or related federal-state partnerships. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE IX. Private Property Rights (0)
This bill contains no provisions affecting private property rights, eminent domain, regulatory takings, or related matters. Its scope is limited to state agency appropriations and staffing levels.
ARTICLE X. State and Federal Lands (0)
This bill does not address state or federal land management, public lands policy, or land transfer issues. It has no bearing on this metric.
ARTICLE XI. Wildlife Management (0)
This bill contains no provisions related to wildlife management, hunting, fishing, or related conservation matters. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XII. Economy (0)
This bill restructures appropriations between two state agencies and does not substantively advance or hinder broader economic policy goals such as reducing regulatory burdens, promoting free enterprise, or fostering private sector growth. The appropriations changes are administrative in nature and do not rise to the level of economic policy impact covered by this metric.
ARTICLE XIII. Health and Welfare (0)
This bill contains no provisions related to health care, public health, welfare programs, or social services. Its scope is limited to workforce development and STEM education agency appropriations, and it has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XIV. American Family (0)
This bill does not address family policy, parental rights, marriage, or related matters. It is an appropriations measure with no relevance to this metric.
ARTICLE XV. Older Americans (0)
This bill contains no provisions related to senior citizens, retirement security, elder care, or aging policy. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XVI. Law and Order with Justice (0)
This bill does not address criminal justice, law enforcement, judicial matters, or public safety. Its scope is confined to agency appropriations and staffing, and it has no bearing on this metric.
ARTICLE XVII. National Defense - Securing the Border (0)
This bill contains no provisions related to national defense, border security, immigration, or military affairs. It has no impact on this metric.
ARTICLE XVIII. Election of Judges and Idaho Supreme Court Justices (0)
This bill does not address judicial elections, court appointments, or the structure of Idaho's judiciary. It has no relevance to this metric.
ARTICLE XIX. Religious Liberty (0)
This bill contains no provisions related to religious liberty, freedom of conscience, or the relationship between government and religious institutions. It has no impact on this metric.