Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0974 – Idaho State Police FY2027 Supplemental Appropriation
Bill Summary
House Bill 974 provides a supplemental appropriation of $6,695,000 to the Idaho State Police for personnel costs during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). Funds are distributed across five programs: the Director’s Office ($130,000), Capitol Protective Services ($260,000), Investigations ($2,210,000), Patrol ($3,835,000), and Law Enforcement Programs ($260,000). The primary funding source is the Idaho Law Enforcement (Project Choice) Fund, with the single legislative change in this bill being the insertion of $195,000 from the Federal Grant Fund to cover a portion of Patrol personnel costs.
The bill’s only marked amendment adds the $195,000 Federal Grant Fund line under the Patrol program, which together with the existing $3,640,000 from the Idaho Law Enforcement Fund accounts for the Patrol program’s $3,835,000 total. This clarifies the funding source for a portion of Patrol costs, shifting that share from state funds to federal grant dollars rather than increasing the overall appropriation total.
The bill declares an emergency and takes effect July 1, 2026, ensuring the appropriation is in place at the start of the fiscal year without a gap in personnel funding.
Overall Assessment
This bill makes a narrow technical amendment to Idaho State Police appropriations by specifying that $195,000 of the Patrol program’s personnel budget will be drawn from the Federal Grant Fund rather than state sources. The practical effect is a clarification of funding origin for an existing appropriation, with no new total spending created by the marked change. Idaho State Police patrol operations and personnel are the direct beneficiaries, gaining explicit authorization to use federal grant dollars for a portion of their staffing costs.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. Responsibility in Government (-1)
The bill adds $195,000 in Federal Grant Fund spending to the Idaho State Police Patrol program. While this shifts costs from state to federal funds, it increases reliance on federal dollars to fund state law enforcement personnel — a form of federal dependency that runs counter to principles of state fiscal self-sufficiency and reducing government expenditure. The broader supplemental appropriation context, totaling $6,695,000 in additional personnel spending, reinforces concerns about growing government payroll costs.
ARTICLE II. Citizen Involvement in Government (0)
This bill allocates personnel funding to the Idaho State Police and has no bearing on citizen participation in government, voting processes, elections, or political engagement.
ARTICLE III. Education (0)
The bill is limited to law enforcement personnel appropriations and contains no provisions related to education policy, school funding, curriculum, or parental rights in education.
ARTICLE IV. Agriculture (0)
This appropriation to the Idaho State Police has no connection to agricultural policy, farming operations, ranching, or rural land use.
ARTICLE V. Water (0)
The bill funds law enforcement personnel costs and contains no provisions affecting water rights, water management, or water policy in Idaho.
ARTICLE VI. Natural Resources and Environment (0)
This bill is confined to police personnel appropriations and makes no changes to natural resource management, environmental regulation, or conservation policy.
ARTICLE VII. Energy (0)
The bill appropriates funds for Idaho State Police personnel and has no connection to energy production, energy independence, or energy regulation.
ARTICLE VIII. Idaho National Laboratories (0)
This appropriation is directed entirely to the Idaho State Police and has no relationship to the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, or technology development.
ARTICLE IX. Private Property Rights (0)
The bill funds law enforcement personnel costs and contains no provisions affecting private property rights, eminent domain, or government takings.
ARTICLE X. State and Federal Lands (0)
This bill makes no changes to land ownership, land management authority, or the balance of state versus federal land control in Idaho.
ARTICLE XI. Wildlife Management (0)
The bill appropriates funds for Idaho State Police personnel and has no bearing on wildlife management, hunting and fishing regulations, or predator control.
ARTICLE XII. Economy (0)
The single legislative change — adding a $195,000 Federal Grant Fund line for Patrol personnel — is a funding source clarification rather than an economic policy measure. It does not alter business regulations, labor law, taxation, or commerce in Idaho.
ARTICLE XIII. Health and Welfare (0)
This bill is limited to law enforcement personnel appropriations and contains no provisions related to healthcare, health insurance, or welfare programs.
ARTICLE XIV. American Family (0)
The bill funds Idaho State Police personnel costs and has no connection to family policy, marriage, right-to-life issues, or child welfare.
ARTICLE XV. Older Americans (0)
This appropriation to the Idaho State Police has no provisions that affect older Idahoans' employment, services, or quality of life.
ARTICLE XVI. Law and Order with Justice (0)
Although the bill funds Idaho State Police programs including Investigations and Patrol, the single marked change — specifying a federal grant funding source for $195,000 of Patrol personnel costs — is a technical budget clarification. It does not alter criminal justice policy, sentencing, due process protections, gun rights, or any of the substantive law enforcement principles addressed by this metric.
ARTICLE XVII. National Defense - Securing the Border (0)
The bill funds civilian state police personnel costs and contains no provisions related to military readiness, the National Guard, veterans, or border security operations.
ARTICLE XVIII. Election of Judges and Idaho Supreme Court Justices (0)
This appropriation bill has no connection to judicial elections, court appointments, or constitutional interpretation standards.
ARTICLE XIX. Religious Liberty (0)
The bill funds Idaho State Police personnel costs and contains no provisions affecting religious freedom, free exercise of religion, or government interference in religious practice.