LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Week Four Idaho Legislative Update for Feb. 2 – Feb. 6, 2026
If the constant talk of revenue and budgets in these reports is wearing thin, it’s not due to a lack of imagination on our end. There is really only one way to accurately say what’s going on: Budgets, revenue and spending cuts are sucking up all the oxygen in the Statehouse right now.
The Joint Finance Appropriations Committee continues to drive the fiscal agenda and on Friday made a series of key decisions that will guide budget setting for the next few weeks. In a series of policy votes, budget writers established the level of reductions in General Fund spending for the current fiscal year (FY2026) and FY2027, which begins July 1. Major decisions Friday included:
For the current fiscal year, JFAC approved a 4 percent General Fund cut for all agencies, a reduction higher than the Governor’s 3 percent reduction. It does not include additional reductions for public schools, Medicaid, Corrections and Idaho State Police.
For FY27, JFAC approved ongoing General Fund reductions of 5 percent for a total reduction of $143 million. This reduction will inform agency budget setting starting next week.
The committee also reduced the amount sought by the Governor to cover increases in state employee health insurance and other benefits.
The tax conformity bill we highlighted last week continues its swift march through the chambers. HB 559, which positions Idaho to adopt nearly all of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” tax cuts at a projected revenue loss of $155 million, cleared the House earlier this week. As expected, it also cleared the Senate local Government and Tax Committee on a party line voice vote. The conformity bill will now move quickly through the Senate floor and be sent to the Governor for signature next week.
All of this fiscal housekeeping means JFAC is poised to hit go on the task of setting agency maintenance budgets. These are the no-frills budgets that cover employee salaries, operations and other routine costs. There is robust speculation that once JFAC, and subsequently the House and Senate Floors approve maintenance budgets, the gates to adjournment swing wide open. With little desire and scant extra cash for most enhancements, the traditional fights over supplemental requests are being put on hold – though there may be a few exceptions.
The progress on budgeting is also creating time and space for lawmakers to begin pushing policy and pet projects – though not in the kind of volume we witnessed a year ago.
Legislation of note introduced this week includes HB 588, which proposes a series of fixes for some of the problems identified with Idaho’s online learning platforms for virtual public and virtual charter schools. A state audit of online programs operated by public school districts and public charter schools found a lack of oversight allowed for some questionable use of public dollars by the Idaho Home Learning Academy. A bill with bipartisan support would establish more accountability and transparency in the way public dollars can be spent and change how districts manage these important public funds. This bill seeks to promote accountability and transparency as a means of allowing districts to continue to receive funding for virtual schools that the Governor sought to cut in his budget recommendation.
There are two competing bills designed to provide a framework for how Idaho should manage public lands, should the federal government decide to transfer some of its vast acreage to the state. The idea of selling off or transferring federal lands re-emerged last summer when Utah Sen. Mike Lee inserted language in the OBBB to test the concept.
Lee’s amendment was withdrawn amid wholesale backlash from a broad coalition, but his effort provoked Rep. Britt Raybould, R-Rexburg, to draft a constitutional amendment, HJR 8. On the other side of the building, Sen. Ben Adams, R-Nampa, is trying to build support for his constitutional amendment, SJR 102. While the two differ in approach, the policy debate is heating up and stakeholders are working through the impact and consequences for how the state manages its vast inventory of public land.
After a long, passionate debate, the House narrowly passed HCR 25 on Friday. The resolution urges Congress to call an Article V convention of states to draft a federal balanced budget amendment. After being shot down for several years, it passed by one vote that involved a questionable procedural move.
We will be collaborating with stakeholders next week to kill HB 597, which grants the Office of Information Technology Services procurement authority for IT services. There is very little to like about this proposed shift and the potential consequences on how the state makes critical decisions on cybersecurity and networks.
Finally, we are pleased that a solid waste bill has been introduced and will be debated in the coming days. This legislation is the byproduct of multiple years of work, communication and cooperation involving a coalition of stakeholders. It serves as a testament to the good work that can be done thanks to good, old-fashioned civility and partnership.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns, or just want to touch base about what to expect in the next few weeks. On to Week Five.
House Bills
H0502 – Forest Products Commission– House Resources and Conservation
The legislation moves the IDAPA Rules of Administrative Procedure for the Idaho Forest Products Commission into Idaho Code. It also makes a series of technical corrections to the commission, officers, and assessments.
Sponsor: Rep Boyle (R-9)
H0511 – Wildfire Property Assessments – House Floor
Calls for an increase from $40 to up to $100 on the surcharge set for improved private forest land parcels. Revenue generated from the surcharge would be deposited in a dedicated fund to support wildfire preparedness. The Land Board would have the authority to set the surcharge. The last rate increase was in 2009.
Sponsor: Boyle (R-9)
H0565 - Code Clean-up, Fish & Game- House Resources and Conservation
To ensure that state laws are streamlined, up-to-date, and essential for the citizens of Idaho, while best serving the public health, safety, and welfare, the Legislature approved the Idaho Code Cleanup Act, H14 in the 2025 legislative session. Submitted sections of Idaho Code were reviewed for repeal consideration by the DOGE Task Force on the criteria of obsolete, outdated, and unnecessary. This bill repeals Sections 36-116, 36-715, and 36-1120, Idaho Code. These sections relate to the transition of wolf management to the state and hunting fines. Idaho has been managing wolves for years, and the fines for hunting violations are established in other sections of Idaho Code.
Sponsors: Rep. Manwaring (R-29) Sen. Bjerke (R-5)
House Joint Memorials & Resolutions
HCR026- Wildlife Crossing- House Resources and Conservation
This Joint Memorial codifies the need for the Idaho Legislature, Idaho’s Congressional delegation, Idaho’s Governor and the Directors of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho Transportation Department to recognize and support the development and implementation of wildlife crossings as a means of improving public safety and the conservation of big game migration corridors. It is also the intention that the Idaho Legislature encourage state and local governments to engage with local stakeholders to develop policies that align with public safety, big game conservation, preserving and protecting the landscape, connectivity, and critical migration corridors that would serve as priority locations for wildlife crossings ultimately designed to benefit Idaho citizens and it’s abundant wildlife populations.
Sponsor: Rep. Petzke (R-21)
Senate Bills
S1222- Water, domestic use-Senate Resources and Environment Committee
Relating to domestic wells. Last year there was an amendment to this section of code; however, it requires further exceptions to include certain subdivisions.
Sponsor: Senator Anthon (R-27)
S1223- Water districts-enate Resources and Environment Committee
Relating to Water Districts. An update related to who is required to pay for updates. Currently it goes to all water users in that district, and this will update it to allow the water district to bill the user it affects directly.
Sponsor: TBD
S1238- Fish & Game, public comment- Senate Resources and Environment Committee
This legislation amends Idaho Code §36-105, to provide for a 30-day public comment period prior to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission adopting, repealing, or amending any season-setting proclamation.
Sponsor: Sen. Forman (R-6)
S1241- Protection of working animals- Senate Agricultural Affairs
This legislation establishes protections for the lawful use of working animals in commerce and service, preventing state or local governments from adopting more restrictive rules that would effectively prohibit such use. It defines “working animal,” excludes cockfighting and dogfighting, and includes an emergency clause for the law to take effect July 1, 2026.
Sponsor: Sen. Shippy (R-9)
Senate Joint Memorials & Resolutions
SJM108- Grazing, depredation claims
Grazing leases or permits on federal land are a valuable property right and can be critical to the success of Idaho ranchers. A rancher should not have their grazing lease or permit be adversely impacted because they submitted a depredation claim regarding their livestock. This Memorial calls upon the federal government to adopt rules to ensure that depredation claims cannot be used as a basis for modifying or revising a federal grazing permit or lease.
Sponsor: Sen. Lakey (R-23)
SJR103- State trust lands- Senate State Affairs
Protecting public lands in Idaho from permanent loss is of vital importance to the identity, culture, and livelihoods of Idahoans. This joint resolution proposes an amendment to Section 8, Article IX of the Idaho Constitution, distinguishing between state endowment lands granted for specific institutional purposes and public lands acquired from the federal government. The state Endowment will be unaffected, ensuring that the Endowment continues to generate revenue for its beneficiaries. Federally managed lands that may be endowed in the future will be placed in a separate, inviolable trust to be preserved for future generations, prohibiting the sale of these lands and allowing exchanges when approved by a two-third vote of the Legislature. These lands will be managed to balance and promote resource utilization, public recreation, scenic values, watershed quality, and wildlife habitat. Revenue from these lands will be applied to the Public Lands Trust Fund, dedicated first to operating and maintaining the land, then to compensating counties, enhancing public access, and supporting primary and secondary public education facilities.
Sponsors: Sen. Adams (R-12) Rep. Redman (R-3)