The Idaho Legislature is starting to warm up its engines. Like they did last year, the powerful budget-setting Joint Finance & Appropriations Committee (JFAC) approved the bulk of the state’s budget in one fell swoop. On Friday morning they approved $12.6 billion in state funding for the year, representing about 90% of the Governor’s budget proposal. The remaining budgetary crumbs (about $1.4 billion) will be considered in the weeks and months to come.
At the federal level, we got a sneak peek at the House Republican menu of cuts that are on the table for the upcoming Budget Reconciliation fight in DC. Among the proposals, which could tally upwards of $5.7 trillion over the coming decade, selling off public lands, opening public lands to additional oil & gas drilling, and slashing other efforts to curb climate change, along with other deep cuts to healthcare and dozens of government programs. Also, as the new President’s nominees are rolled out, ICL is watching closely for clues to see what they may hold for our lands, waters, and wildlife. So far, we’re a little underwhelmed, but we’ll play the hand we’re dealt.
Back at the Idaho Capitol, a bill introduced last week by House Transportation Chairman Rep. Joe Palmer (R-Meridian) would prohibit local control related to the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure when buildings are planned. This builds on past efforts to restrict local control when it comes to energy efficient building codes, natural gas hookups, plastic bag bans, and more. ICL knows that putting up roadblocks for this technology will only create costly speed bumps for Idahoans in the future, so we’ll be monitoring and speaking out against the bill, but we’re not too optimistic about the route that the #IdLeg will choose.
With challenges on the federal and state horizons, ICL and our partners have our work cut out for us, and need your support more than ever.
Finally, in the coming days we’ll see more bills introduced and a continued focus on big budget questions, along with hot topics like private school vouchers (aka education choice), state employee salaries, chemical corporation immunity, and much more.
So let’s get down to the biz!
JFAC Stumbles Out of the Gate
The legislative budget committee teetered a bit on Thursday when conservative members of the Joint Finance & Appropriations Committee (JFAC) rejected $13 billion in funding to keep state government agencies afloat in FY2026. But on Friday, they reconsidered and approved the $12.6 billion, funding about 88% of the state’s budget.
As you might recall, JFAC implemented new procedures last year intended to expedite their work. Instead of considering each agency’s budget in turn, they consider all the “maintenance budgets” in one fell swoop, and then spend the next 6+ weeks considering any new spending proposals.
One proposal that hit turbulent waters on Thursday was a pay raise for 25,000 state employees. JFAC rejected the Governor’s recommended 5% bump, and sliced it out of the budget they passed on Friday. Apparently they’ll plan to revisit the pay raise later in the session.
In the meantime, many state agencies struggle to fill key positions to ensure the smooth operation of government. If ICL had a nickel for every state employee who walked through the front door and out the back door after only a few short months… we’d have a lot of nickels.
When it comes down to it, retention of state employees across a wide range of agencies (including natural resource-focused ones) has a very real impact on the services that we rely on. Whether it’s the roads we drive on, our precious public lands, our teachers, public defenders, support for youth and families, the courts, or so many other critical functions of government, attracting and retaining qualified and experienced state employees are in all of our best interests.
Firefighters, Insurance Rates and…Shrubbery!
If you turned on the TV or saw the news over last week, chances are you’ve seen stories about homeowners in California who are reeling from a double whammy: loss of homeowners insurance, followed by loss of their home in the tragic, climate-fueled catastrophe known as the LA Fires.
Here’s the thing. It’s not just a problem in California. According to Idaho Dept. of Insurance Director Dean Cameron, of the 91 insurers in Idaho, 22 have dropped clients due to increasing fire risk. That’s why he introduced a bill last week in the House Business Committee to consolidate a pool of existing funds to provide fire prevention and homeowner mitigation grants. The hope is, it will encourage insurance companies not to drop coverage as we continue to see increased fire danger as Idaho grows and homes continue to expand into fire-prone areas.
The Governor also proposed an additional $100 million to cover increasingly costly fires in Idaho. Fact is, under a revised agreement with the federal government, Idaho is providing fire protection across some of the areas where private homes are creeping into the forest. The Gov’s plan also includes bonuses for Idaho state firefighters intended to compete with the more generous federal salaries.
Finally, in the coming days, we expect to see an industry and Governor-supported bill that deals with power company liability associated with fire risk. Several large fires in California, Oregon, and Idaho were sparked by power lines or equipment. That’s left power companies holding the million-dollar bag. Any liability changes must be coupled with transparent programs that encourage mitigation, prevention, and other risk reduction efforts.
Fueled by a changing climate, Idaho is spending more and more each year to battle the blazes that we know are coming. Whether it’s insurance rates, power rates, or tax rates, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’re paying the price. As one of the only public interest groups that pays attention to these issues, you can also bet your bottom dollar that ICL will scrutinize these proposals, and share our perspective with legislators, and we encourage you to do the same.
Cynthia’s Corner 
Jonathan and I were fortunate to have several encouraging conversations with legislators last week, some of whom have decades of experience in the agricultural field, and shared ICL’s expressed concern over Chronic Wasting Disease and the threat posed to our native deer and elk. Discussions revolved around how to minimize additional spread of this deadly disease. As is typical for the legislature, we don’t agree on everything, but we can find areas of agreement—our mutual love for Idaho’s wildlife and public lands, which really is our common ground...
Jonathan and I had a great time presenting a Legislative 101 & Public Lands Update webinar to ICL members last Thursday. You can view the recording here. Thank you for trusting us to track legislation that concerns you during the session.
Tie of the week! 
Kermit always said it isn’t easy being green, and sometimes I think he was talking about Idaho. Whether it’s recycling, driving an EV, riding public transit, or making more efficient buildings, the Idaho Legislature likes to make it hard for us to be green in Idaho. That’s part of the reason we live here…we like a challenge. Speaking of green challenges, this week’s tie is dedicated to Idaho State Employees, from Kermit’s protectors at the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (yes, you need a license to hunt frogs) to some of Kermit’s friends at Idaho Public Television to the staff at Lava Hot Springs, this tie’s for you and hoping you see some more green in the Fiscal Year!
Until next week…Esto Perpetua,
Jonathan