Energy

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.

This bill (S 1303) renames the "Renewable Energy Resources Fund" to the "Energy Resources Fund" and updates the definition of "renewable energy resources" to specifically include geothermal, wind, and solar power. It does not change how funds are distributed - 10% of federal renewable energy revenue still goes to counties for roads/schools, while 90% continues to flow into the fund. The change is purely technical, clarifying which energy sources qualify under the fund's definition. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.