This bill adjusts funding and staffing levels for two Idaho state agencies for fiscal year 2027. It increases money and authorized positions for the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination while reducing both funding and staff positions for the Idaho State Historical Society by the same amount. The legislation also allows the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination to move money between different budget categories without restrictions. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and the bill was signed into law by the Governor.
This bill allocates $46.1 million to Idaho's Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination for fiscal year 2027 while simultaneously reducing funding and staffing for two related offices. It sets a maximum of 23 full-time positions for the main office, cuts 11 positions from the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, and reduces 16 positions from the Office of Species Conservation. The legislation also lowers operating budgets for the energy and minerals office and the species conservation office, while maintaining or increasing funding for the main coordination office from various state and federal sources.
SCR 120 is a concurrent resolution expressing the Idaho Legislature's support for expanding used nuclear fuel reprocessing research at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). It requests the state work with the federal government to renegotiate the 1995 settlement agreement with the Department of Energy, which limits the amount of used nuclear fuel stored in Idaho, to allow greater processing capacity. The resolution encourages collaboration between state agencies, INL, industry, and academic institutions to develop reprocessing technologies that could convert used fuel into reusable material, while requiring community engagement and adherence to safety standards. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but directs state efforts to advance Idaho's role in nuclear fuel cycle research.
This bill is a joint memorial from the Idaho Legislature requesting that the U.S. Congress pass laws to regulate solar geoengineering activities. It specifically asks for federal legislation to prohibit the intentional release of substances into the atmosphere for solar geoengineering without explicit approval from the State of Idaho. The memorial urges banning unmarked aircraft and drones used for such activities over Idaho airspace and recommends making unauthorized actions a felony offense with criminal penalties. The document also calls for cooperation between federal law enforcement and Idaho state agencies to enforce these regulations and demands full disclosure and public consent for any solar geoengineering programs conducted over Idaho.
