The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met Feb. 14 and approved a string of supplemental appropriations and FY2026 enhancement motions affecting multiple state agencies, while one funding motion for the Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman failed to secure House support.

The committee approved one-time and ongoing adjustments that included reimbursements for hazardous-material cleanup, funding to install public-safety communications systems and upgrades to the Military Divisions IT infrastructure, transfers to support hazardous-materials regional response teams, and multiple agency enhancement packages for veterans services, agriculture, finance, insurance and education special programs. Most motions carried with bipartisan support; the ombudsman funding motion passed in the Senate but did not obtain a majority in the House.

Votes at a glance (motion text condensed; outcome and vote tally):
- Hazardous substance response reimbursement: one-time appropriation and transfer of $34,200 from the general fund to the Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Fund for FY2025. Outcome: approved; total 20 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent/excused.
- Military Division  Public safety communications support: one-time appropriation of $540,001 from the general fund for installation support. Outcome: approved; total 20 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent/excused.
- Military Division  IT infrastructure upgrade: one-time appropriation of $759,200 from the general fund to upgrade IT infrastructure and licensing. Outcome: approved; total 19 ayes, 1 nay, 0 absent/excused.
- Military Division FY2026 enhancements (including public-safety network administrator, replacement items, hazmat equipment): total net increase of $9,117,100 (mixed fund sources). Outcome: approved; total 19 ayes, 1 nay, 0 absent/excused.
- Transfer for Hazmat regional response teams: one-time appropriation and transfer of $8,600,000 from the State Emergency Relief Fund to the Divisions miscellaneous revenue fund. Outcome: approved; total 19 ayes, 1 nay, 0 absent/excused.
- Division of Veterans Services FY2026 adjustments (personnel shifts, capital, replacements, reappropriation authority): total increase $709,000 across fund sources and reappropriation authority for federal grants. Outcome: approved; total 19 ayes, 1 nay, 0 absent/excused.
- Department of Agriculture  pest control deficiency: one-time appropriation and transfer of $1,724,300 from the general fund to the Pest Control Deficiency Fund (FY2025) to reimburse FY2024 exotic species monitoring and control costs. Outcome: approved; total 20 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent/excused.
- Department of Agriculture FY2026 enhancements (investigator pay structure, CEC for inspectors, replacements, IT hardware): total increase $1,836,900 (mixed funds). Outcome: approved; Senate: 8 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused; House: unanimous; aggregate 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused.
- Department of Finance FY2026 enhancements (five FTEs added, mix of examiner and specialist positions, IT hardware): Outcome: approved; Senate: 8 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused; House: unanimous; aggregate 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused.
- Department of Insurance FY2026 enhancements (actuary, compliance specialist, State Fire Marshal compensation and replacements): Outcome: approved; aggregate 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused.
- State Board of Education special programs FY2026 request (small FTE adjustments, rural educator incentive funding and other line items): Outcome: approved; aggregate 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused.
- Health Education Programs FY2026 request (medical/dental residency funding and two FTE): Outcome: approved; aggregate 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused. The motion included language expressing JFACs intent on added OBGYN fellowships and reporting requirements for the Idaho Graduate Medical Education Committee.
- State Independent Living Council fund shift: budget shift of $11,600 from dedicated funds to general fund to cover health benefits and CEC adjustments (net zero). Outcome: approved; aggregate 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused.
- Licensing & Certification (Department of Health & Welfare)  language motions: the committee approved intent language to exempt Licensing & Certification from FY2025/FY2026 personnel-to-operating transfer restrictions and required a report and draft legislation exploring transfer of the Licensing & Certification program from Health & Welfare to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Outcome: approved; total 16 ayes, 2 nays, 2 absent/excused.
- Indirect Support Services (Department of Health & Welfare) FY2026 replacement and IT items and a requirement that the department report on vehicle fleet utilization: Outcome: approved; aggregate 17 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent/excused.

Failed motion: Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman (FY2026 salary increases request): the motion to add $50,000 from the general fund passed the Senate but failed to obtain a House majority. Final tally reported: 13 ayes, 4 nays, 3 absent/excused (motion failed in the House and will be taken up later).

What passed on votes will move forward as committee recommendations to the full Legislature as required by joint rules; items that carry language or reporting requirements will return to the committee in the form described in the motions.

Notable committee process points: motions were typically moved by committee members (for example, Senator Ward Engelking, Representative Petzke, Representative Handy, Senator Hart and others), with roll calls recorded by division. Several committee members asked for future report formats (for example, a total line for fiscal exposures in the general-fund update), and some members declared conflicts and had them entered into the record.

The committee reconvened work on these budgets and will continue deliberations in future sessions where required procedural steps remain.