Budget & Taxes

in committee · Idaho · House Mar 10, 2026

H 861: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE – Amends existing law to authorize the Department of Commerce to use certain tax revenue to fund state institutions of higher education.

This bill authorizes Idaho's Department of Commerce to use certain tax revenue to award grants to state institutions of higher education for projects that promote economic development or tourism. It updates the department's existing powers to include formally awarding these grants and requires the Travel and Convention Industry Council to review and approve grant requests from universities and nonprofit groups. The funding comes from an existing assessment on the travel and convention industry, with 50% of the funds (after administrative costs) directed to local nonprofit organizations and the remaining portion available for state and regional grant programs. The bill also includes technical corrections to the department's duties and establishes an emergency provision for immediate implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes using tax revenue to fund higher education grants, strengthening state budget allocation for education and economic development programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

Track

in committee · Idaho · House Mar 16, 2026

H 891: TAXATION – Amends existing law to provide certain procedures for the credit and refund of certain sales taxes paid erroneously.

This bill amends Idaho's sales tax laws to establish clearer procedures for obtaining refunds when sales taxes are mistakenly paid. It directly affects sellers, buyers, and the state tax commission by creating specific rules for handling situations where sales tax was collected incorrectly. The key provision requires sellers to refund sales taxes to buyers when no tax was actually due, while allowing sellers to claim a credit from the state for the amount refunded, minus any use tax owed on that transaction. The bill also clarifies that sellers cannot claim additional credits for subsequent transactions after they are aware that use tax should have been applied instead of sales tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes clearer refund procedures for erroneously collected sales taxes, promoting fiscal responsibility and correcting tax collection errors.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

Track

signed · Idaho · House Mar 26, 2026

H 907: APPROPRIATIONS – DIVISION OF CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION – Relates to the appropriation to the Division of Career Technical Education for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

This bill allocates state funding to Idaho's Division of Career Technical Education for the Secondary and General Programs program over fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It provides $1,877,300 for the 2026-2027 period and $957,600 for the 2025-2026 period, both drawn from the Idaho Career Ready Students Program Fund. The money is designated specifically for trustee and benefit payments related to the program. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to allow Section 2 to take effect immediately upon signing, while Section 1 becomes active on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funding to Division of Career Technical Education, directly supporting education programs and increasing government spending on essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funding to Idaho's Division of Career Technical Education for secondary and general programs, directly supporting education through financial resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Career & Technical Education

signed · Idaho · House Apr 2, 2026

H 967: DISTRIBUTION OF MONEYS IN LIQUOR ACCOUNT – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the distribution of moneys in the Liquor Account.

This bill updates how money collected from Idaho's liquor sales is distributed to various state funds and local governments. It adjusts the percentages of funds allocated to counties, cities, and specific programs like law enforcement, substance abuse treatment, and education over a multi-year period starting in fiscal year 2018. The changes gradually shift more funding toward local governments while maintaining set amounts for state agencies and court-related services. The bill also corrects a code reference error and establishes minimum funding levels to protect historical distribution amounts from 1981.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases funding to local governments and essential programs like law enforcement and substance abuse treatment through liquor tax revenue distribution85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates funds to law enforcement and court-related services, strengthening criminal justice infrastructure through increased funding.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

passed · Idaho · House Mar 17, 2026

H 875: STATE BUDGET – Adds to existing law to provide for the Legislative Services Office to provide the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee with a calculated reduction from the Governor’s budget document.

This bill directs the Legislative Services Office to calculate and provide a reduction to the Governor's budget document for certain state entities. The reduction applies to organizations with 50 or more full-time equivalent positions and covers employee benefits, health insurance, and compensation costs. The calculation uses a five-year average of actual personnel expenditures divided by originally appropriated personnel costs, or all available years if the entity is newer. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee may include these calculated reductions in appropriation bills for affected entities, and the change applies to all fund types.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by requiring budget reductions for large entities, improving government spending efficiency and accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending State Budget

Track

in committee · Idaho · Senate Mar 27, 2026

S 1428: APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH SAFETY AND PERMANENCY, AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2027.

This bill appropriates additional funding to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for fiscal year 2027, specifically supporting early learning, youth safety, and family partnership programs. It allocates money to the Division of Early Learning and Development for child care expansion, the Division of Youth Safety and Permanency for foster care and permanency services, and the Division of Family and Community Partnerships for kinship navigation grants. The legislation also authorizes eight new full-time positions, allows unused child care funds from the previous year to be reallocated for nonrecurring expenses, and requires a report on the Idaho Home Visiting Program's outcomes. Additionally, it sets spending limits and restrictions for child care capacity funds, prioritizing home-based care for underserved populations while prohibiting use for construction or providers under investigation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates additional funding for early learning, youth safety, and family partnership programs, directly supporting budget allocation for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates funding for early learning and development programs, expanding child care access and supporting youth services related to education.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Early Childhood

Track

signed · Idaho · Senate Apr 1, 2026

S 1417: APPROPRIATIONS – DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Parks and Recreation for fiscal years 2027 and 2026.

This bill appropriates $18.1 million to Idaho's Department of Parks and Recreation for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, funding park operations, capital development, and personnel costs from various state and federal funds. It authorizes an increase of 2.95 full-time equivalent positions for the department and exempts certain trustee and benefit payments from program transfer limitations for fiscal year 2026. The legislation declares an emergency to take effect immediately upon signing, with most provisions becoming active on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $18.1M to Department of Parks and Recreation, increasing funding for public services and authorizing additional staff positions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

signed · Idaho · Senate Mar 30, 2026

S 1403: APPROPRIATIONS – DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality for fiscal year 2027.

This bill appropriates $2,011,700 to Idaho's Department of Environmental Quality for fiscal year 2027 to fund water quality, waste management, and remediation programs. It also authorizes four additional full-time equivalent positions within the department and consolidates several fee accounts by transferring money between them to streamline financial management. The legislation reduces a specific federal fund allocation for water quality personnel costs while moving money from the hazardous waste emergency fund to the solid waste regulatory fund. Once signed into law, these changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2M+ to fund environmental programs, authorizes new staff positions, and streamlines financial management, directly supporting budget allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill provides funding for environmental quality department programs including water quality, waste management, and remediation, strengthening environmental protection capabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Hazardous Materials Waste Management Water Quality

signed · Idaho · Senate Mar 25, 2026

S 1380: APPROPRIATIONS – ENDOWMENT FUND INVESTMENT BOARD – Relates to the appropriation to the Endowment Fund Investment Board for fiscal year 2027.

This bill appropriates $3,700 from the Endowment Earnings Administrative Fund to the Endowment Fund Investment Board for fiscal year 2027. The funds are designated for capital outlay expenses between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. The legislation declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation of the appropriation starting July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $3,700 to fund capital outlay expenses for the Endowment Fund Investment Board, directly strengthening fiscal management and funding essential government operations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

signed · Idaho · House Apr 2, 2026

H 950: APPROPRIATIONS – LEGISLATURE – Appropriates $200,000 to the Legislature for fiscal year 2026 for the Medicaid Review Panel.

This bill allocates $200,000 from the state's General Fund to the Idaho Legislature for fiscal year 2026 to support the operations of the Medicaid Review Panel. The funding covers operating expenses from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and includes authority to carry forward any unused funds for nonrecurring expenses in the following fiscal year. The legislation also declares an emergency to allow the appropriation to take effect immediately upon passage, ensuring the panel can continue its work without interruption.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $200,000 to fund Medicaid Review Panel operations, directly supporting public assistance and government program funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $200,000 to fund Medicaid Review Panel operations, directly supporting healthcare oversight and public assistance programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Medicaid