APPROPRIATIONS – STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION – COMMUNITY COLLEGES – Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education for community colleges for fiscal year 2026.

This bill appropriates $1.68 million from the General Fund to Idaho's three public community colleges for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), with specific amounts allocated to the College of Eastern Idaho ($496,800), College of Southern Idaho ($690,000), and College of Western Idaho ($493,000). It requires the State Board of Education to develop an outcomes-based funding model to replace the current enrollment-based funding system for community colleges. The State Board must deliver a written proposal to the legislature by December 2025, with implementation planned for fiscal year 2028 or earlier, and provide quarterly progress reports to the legislature. These changes directly affect Idaho's community colleges and the State Board of Education's budgeting process.