Bill Analyses and Ratings

Rating: –1

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1128 creates Section 42-1760A in Idaho Code to establish a continuous annual appropriation of $30 million from the General Fund to the Water Management Account, administered by the Idaho Water Resource Board. The funds may be used for planning, constructing, rehabilitating, and improving water infrastructure throughout the state. The bill allows the board to coordinate with federal, state, local, and private entities to leverage additional resources. It imposes a cap to prevent more than 50% of funds from being spent in a single district unless there are no other qualifying projects and requires an annual report to the governor and legislature. The bill includes an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:
While investing in water infrastructure is a legitimate state interest, S1128 violates key Idaho Republican Party Platform principles by establishing a $30 million automatic appropriation from the General Fund with no recurring legislative oversight. This creates a standing incentive to spend public funds regardless of actual need and bypasses normal budgetary scrutiny. Furthermore, the bill explicitly encourages coordination with federal agencies, inviting additional dependency on deficit-driven federal aid—despite the platform’s call to reject unconstitutional federal influence and reduce reliance on federal funds. The combination of unchecked spending authority and promotion of federal entanglement makes this bill incompatible with the platform’s priorities of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and state sovereignty.