Bill > H0248

This bill appropriates funds to various natural resources departments in Idaho for fiscal year 2026, with a total budget of $523,180,200 across five main departments: Environmental Quality, Fish and Game, Lands, Parks and Recreation, and Water Resources. The bill authorizes specific funding allocations for each department's programs, including administrative services, enforcement, resource management, and specialized initiatives. Key provisions include authorization for 1,632.40 full-time equivalent positions across the departments, a $1.5 million transfer to the Environmental Remediation (Basin) Fund for Superfund cleanup projects, and up to $325 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The bill also includes specific reporting requirements, such as an annual report on basin remediation progress and a mandate for the Department of Environmental Quality to provide updates on ARPA-funded project recipients. Additionally, the bill grants the Endowment Fund Investment Board authority to transfer over $110 million between various earnings reserve and income funds, and includes provisions for cash transfers to support aquifer management and flood prevention programs. The appropriations are effective from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and are subject to accountability reports and management reviews.

Budget and Finance

Appropriations Committee (H)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0248/