This bill allocates $1,368,700 in state funding to Idaho's four community colleges for fiscal year 2027, with specific amounts designated for personnel and operating expenses at each institution. The legislation also reduces the total appropriation by $245,500 from the previous year's funding levels across the same colleges. The funds are distributed through the State Board of Education's General Fund and become effective on July 1, 2026.
This bill appropriates and adjusts funding for Idaho's Division of Welfare for fiscal year 2027, covering the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. It allocates $6.9 million total from two Cooperative Welfare funds, with $3 million designated for personnel costs and $3.8 million for operating expenses, while also setting aside $98,300 for benefit payments. The legislation simultaneously reduces the overall appropriation by $3.1 million from the Federal Fund, specifically cutting $3 million for personnel and $98,300 for benefit payments. The bill includes a declaration of emergency and takes effect immediately upon signing.
This bill allocates an additional $2,100 from the state's General Fund to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. The money is designated for operating expenses covering the fiscal year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The legislation includes a declaration of emergency to ensure the funding takes effect immediately on July 1, 2026. This appropriation supports the program's ongoing operations without changing existing laws or eligibility requirements.
Idaho's S 1252, the "ROGUE Act," limits annual maintenance budget increases for all state government entities (including departments, agencies, universities, and colleges) to the regional consumer price index (CPI) inflation rate for the prior year. If the CPI shows no increase or a decrease, budgets cannot exceed the previous year's approved amount. Exceptions allow higher increases for emergencies, federally required spending, or operational needs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, aiming to tie state spending growth to inflation.
H 793 revises Idaho's beer excise tax revenue distribution, affecting state funds and the beer industry. It increases the portion of low-alcohol beer tax revenue (≤5% ABV) going to the substance abuse treatment fund from 12% to 20%, while allocating 33% to the Idaho law enforcement fund (with 60% dedicated to the Project Choice program) and the remainder to the general fund. For high-alcohol beer (>5% ABV), it temporarily adjusts funding to hop growers and wine producers (1.5%/3.5% in 2022-2023, rising to 5%/1.5% permanently from 2024), with the rest going to the general fund. The bill removes obsolete language and takes effect July 1, 2026.
S 1312 revises Idaho's Medicaid payment rules for healthcare providers, directly affecting hospitals, mental health facilities, and home care services. It sets payment rates at 100% of Medicare for primary care and 90% for other services where Medicare equivalents exist, while requiring annual cost surveys (with 15% audits) for services without Medicare rates. The bill mandates providers to allocate funds to staff wages and employee costs, reduces general fund needs by $3.1 million in FY2020 and $8.72 million in FY2021, and transitions most hospitals to value-based payment systems by July 2021. It also nullifies specific administrative rules (IDAPA 16.03.26) after July 2026.
Idaho's S 1331 reduces state funding for education programs in fiscal year 2026 by $22.3 million from the Public School Income Fund and transfers money to the General Fund. It directly affects public schools (teachers and student support), Idaho's universities (including Boise State, Idaho State, and the University of Idaho), community colleges, and education programs like medical residencies and career technical education. Key mechanisms include cutting specific budget line items (e.g., $5.4 million for Boise State University, $1.8 million for student administrators), reducing authorized staff positions, and reallocating funds. The bill declares an emergency to expedite these fiscal adjustments.
SJM 112 is a joint memorial from Idaho's legislature calling on Congress to propose a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. It directly addresses U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch, and Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher (Idaho's congressional delegation) to lead efforts in Congress. The memorial cites Idaho's concerns about the $38 trillion national debt and references Article V of the Constitution as the proper process for such an amendment. It does not create new law but formally requests federal action to address budget deficits.
