This bill allocates state funding for Idaho's education system for fiscal year 2027, directing money to the State Board of Education, public universities, community colleges, and related agencies. It establishes specific dollar amounts for personnel, operating expenses, and capital outlays for institutions including Boise State, Idaho State, Lewis-Clark State, University of Idaho, and four community colleges. The legislation also sets limits on the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions for certain programs and provides flexibility to transfer funds between expense categories for higher education and health education programs. Additionally, it adjusts student tuition and fees for the upcoming fiscal year and designates funds for standards review, data sharing, and accountability reporting.
This bill appropriates $25,800 from the Idaho State Lottery Fund for capital improvements during fiscal year 2027. The funds are designated for capital outlay purposes, meaning they will be used for physical infrastructure or equipment upgrades rather than operational expenses. The legislation declares an emergency to allow the appropriation to take effect immediately on July 1, 2026, without waiting for the regular budget cycle. Once enacted, the money becomes available for the Idaho State Lottery to use for approved capital projects within the specified fiscal year.
This bill appropriates $35,400 from the Public Utilities Commission Fund to provide additional funding for the Public Utilities Commission's capital outlay expenses during fiscal year 2027. The money is designated for the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and is intended to support the commission's infrastructure and operational investments. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to ensure the funds take effect immediately on July 1, 2026. This measure directly affects the Public Utilities Commission by increasing its available budget for capital projects during the specified fiscal year.
This bill allocates an additional $350,000 from the General Fund to the Idaho Office of the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2027, covering personnel costs of $20,000 and operating expenditures of $330,000. The funds are designated for the Secretary of State Program and must be spent according to specific expense categories during the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to take effect immediately on July 1, 2026, though it failed to pass the House floor during a recent vote.
This bill directs the Legislative Services Office to calculate and provide a reduction to the Governor's budget document for certain state entities. The reduction applies to organizations with 50 or more full-time equivalent positions and covers employee benefits, health insurance, and compensation costs. The calculation uses a five-year average of actual personnel expenditures divided by originally appropriated personnel costs, or all available years if the entity is newer. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee may include these calculated reductions in appropriation bills for affected entities, and the change applies to all fund types.
Idaho's H 610 revises the homestead property tax exemption, setting a new limit of the first $125,000 of a home's market value or 50% of that value (whichever is lower) as exempt from taxation. This directly affects Idaho homeowners who occupy their primary residence, requiring them to apply through county assessors with documentation confirming primary occupancy and compliance with uniform appraisal standards. Key provisions include updated application forms, rules for mid-year eligibility changes (prorating taxes based on days of eligibility), and simplified documentation for military homeowners. The bill does not alter the exemption's eligibility criteria but clarifies calculation methods and administrative processes for county assessors.
HJR 7 proposes repealing a constitutional ban (Section 5, Article IX) that currently prohibits Idaho from using public funds to support religious institutions or activities. If approved by voters, this amendment would allow the state legislature to fund religious organizations directly with taxpayer money, removing a long-standing constitutional barrier. The bill itself does not create new funding programs but eliminates the existing constitutional restriction on such appropriations. It is a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval at the next general election, having recently passed committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation.
