Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: S1331 – FY2026 Appropriations Reduction and Fund Transfer
Bill Summary
This bill reduces state appropriations across multiple agencies for fiscal year 2026, with the largest cuts affecting public school support ($22.4 million), higher education institutions, and the Department of Health and Welfare. The reductions span personnel costs, operating expenditures, and benefit payments across education, corrections, law enforcement, environmental quality, and numerous other state departments. The bill also eliminates approximately 100 full-time equivalent positions across various agencies and transfers $22.4 million from the Public School Income Fund to the General Fund.
The appropriations reductions are implemented by adding new funding lines (marked with tags) that specify lower amounts from unrestricted and federal funds for specific programs. Major affected areas include Medicaid programs (with combined reductions exceeding $60 million in federal funds), university operations, corrections facilities, mental health services, and youth safety programs. The bill includes an emergency clause making it effective immediately upon passage.
Overall Assessment
This bill cuts state spending by approximately $193 million and eliminates 100 government positions across agencies, representing a significant reduction in government operations and workforce. The largest impacts fall on public education, which loses $22.4 million in dedicated funding transferred to the general fund, and health and welfare programs, where Medicaid and mental health services face substantial federal funding reductions. These cuts will directly affect service delivery capacity in schools, healthcare programs, corrections facilities, and various state regulatory and support functions.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (1)
The bill reduces state appropriations by approximately $193 million and eliminates 100 full-time equivalent positions across multiple agencies as specified in Sections 1 and 2. These reductions directly decrease government spending and workforce size, demonstrating fiscal restraint and smaller government operations.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill addresses appropriations reductions and fund transfers without any provisions related to citizen participation, election procedures, voting methods, or government transparency mechanisms.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (-1)
Section 1(1) reduces Public School Support by $22,366,500 from the Public School Income Fund, including cuts to teachers, administrators, and operations. Section 3 transfers this same amount from the Public School Income Fund to the General Fund, removing dedicated education funding. The bill also reduces funding for universities, community colleges, and career technical education programs.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
The bill reduces Department of Agriculture funding across various divisions including Animal Industries, Agricultural Resources, and Plant Industries. However, these are operational budget adjustments without policy changes affecting agricultural education, water rights, or farming practices.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
Section 1(13) reduces Department of Water Resources funding across management, planning, and water management divisions. These are administrative budget cuts that do not address water rights, inter-basin transfers, or state water sovereignty issues.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
The bill reduces funding for Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Lands, and Department of Parks and Recreation. These operational budget reductions do not change environmental policies, land management practices, or resource utilization frameworks.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The bill does not address energy policy, energy independence, hydroelectric power, electrical rates, or energy resource development. The Office of Energy and Mineral Resources receives minor funding adjustments without policy implications.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
The bill contains no provisions related to Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, technology transfer, or alternative energy development.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
This bill addresses state agency appropriations without any provisions regarding private property rights, eminent domain, regulatory takings, or property development regulations.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
While the bill reduces Department of Lands funding for forest resources, trust land management, and fire protection, these are budget adjustments that do not address federal land ownership, state land management authority, or land transfer policies.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
Section 1(10) reduces Department of Fish and Game funding across administration, enforcement, fisheries, and wildlife divisions. These operational budget cuts do not change wildlife management policies, hunting regulations, or predator control programs.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (1)
The bill reduces overall state spending by approximately $193 million and eliminates 100 government positions, demonstrating fiscal responsibility through reduced government expenditures. These cuts align with principles of balanced budgets and limited government growth, though they do not directly address commerce development or business regulations.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
Section 1(3) significantly reduces Department of Health and Welfare funding, including major cuts to Medicaid programs (Coordinated Plan $12.9M, Enhanced Plan $18.3M, Basic Plan $14.3M, Expansion Plan $15.8M) and mental health services. The bill also reduces youth safety, early learning, and welfare operations funding, affecting service delivery capacity across multiple health and welfare programs.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
The bill reduces funding for Youth Safety & Permanency, Foster & Assistance Payments, Early Learning and Development, and Children's Mental Health services. However, these are operational budget adjustments without policy changes affecting family structure, parental rights, or family support programs.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
Section 1(26)(I) reduces Commission on Aging funding by $198,500. This budget reduction could affect service capacity but does not change policies regarding older Americans' access to services or work penalties.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
The bill reduces Department of Correction funding across management, prisons, community corrections, and medical services, and eliminates 11.5 FTE positions in corrections. It also reduces Idaho State Police funding and judicial branch appropriations. These operational cuts do not change criminal justice policies, sentencing laws, or law enforcement authority.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
Section 1(26)(XI) reduces Military Division funding for military management and federal/state agreements, and Section 2 eliminates 3.0 FTE positions in the Military Division. These budget cuts do not address border security, immigration enforcement, or national defense policies.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
Section 1(6) reduces Judicial Branch funding for the Supreme Court, District Courts, and Magistrate Division. These operational budget reductions do not address judicial selection methods, election procedures, or constitutional interpretation standards.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The bill does not address religious freedom, free exercise of religion, conscience protections, or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.