Bill > H0248

This bill appropriates a total of $523,180,200 for the Natural Resources sector for fiscal year 2026, covering the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. * **Department of Environmental Quality:** Receives a total of $170,942,100 from various funds, including the Department of Environmental Quality (General) Fund, Department of Environmental Quality (Federal) Fund, and the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund, for administration, air quality, water quality, waste management, and oversight of the Idaho National Laboratory. A significant portion of the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund, $59,941,200, is allocated to water quality initiatives. * **Department of Fish and Game:** Is appropriated $144,325,600 from the Fish and Game Fund and the Fish and Game (Federal) Fund for administration, enforcement, fisheries, wildlife, and communications. * **Board of Land Commissioners and Department of Lands:** Collectively receive $76,529,300. This includes $923,400 for the Endowment Fund Investment Board and $75,605,900 for the Department of Lands, funded by sources like the General Fund, Department of Lands Fund, and Endowment Earnings Administrative Fund, for business services, forest resources management, trust land management, fire protection, and mineral/oil/gas activities. * **Department of Parks and Recreation:** Is appropriated $49,127,800 from various funds including the General Fund, Parks and Recreation Fund, and Parks and Recreation Registration Fund for management services and park operations. * **Department of Water Resources:** Receives $82,255,400 from the General Fund and other dedicated funds for management and support services, planning and technical services, water management, and adjudication efforts. Notably, $50,000,000 from the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund is allocated to planning and technical services for water infrastructure. * **Full-Time Equivalent Positions:** The bill authorizes specific full-time equivalent positions for each department within Natural Resources for the fiscal year. * **Remediation Projects:** Funds in the Environmental Remediation (Basin) Fund are designated for Coeur d'Alene Basin remediation, with reporting requirements to the Governor and Legislature. A $1,500,000 transfer from the Water Pollution Control Fund to the Environmental Remediation (Basin) Fund is authorized for Superfund cleanup projects. * **ARPA Funding for Water Infrastructure:** The bill outlines the intent to provide up to $325,000,000 from the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund for drinking water and wastewater projects, with a tiered grant approach prioritizing systems with the greatest need. * **Endowment Fund Transfers:** The Endowment Fund Investment Board is authorized to transfer over $110 million from various Earnings Reserve Funds to their respective Endowment Income Funds. * **Cash Transfers:** Several cash transfers are authorized, including $5,000,000 from the General Fund to the Secondary Aquifer Planning, Management, and Implementation Fund and $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Water Management Fund for flood management programs.