IdahoIdaho law lists behavioral health and hospital funding
The law lists behavioral health and hospital funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, authorizes 15 more mental health positions, and sets a spending report deadline.
What it does
The law lists $16.4 million for treatment, mental health services, and state psychiatric hospitals for fiscal year 2027, alongside reductions totaling about $8.9 million.
The law lists $6.1 million for the two state psychiatric hospitals for fiscal year 2026, with a $6.1 million reduction to a separate appropriation.
The law authorizes 15 more mental health division positions and allows two health department divisions to transfer certain funds during fiscal year 2027.
The Mental Health Services Division must report actual plan spending on adult and children's services by December 1, 2026.
Argument forSetting out funds for treatment, mental health services, and state hospitals could help the department plan spending for those programs.
Argument againstThe listed funding reductions could leave less money in some program and hospital budget lines, which may limit how those funds can be used.
More detail
The law lists funding for behavioral health programs and state psychiatric hospitals, along with reductions to other appropriations. The listed amounts cover department programs for fiscal year 2027, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The amounts are assigned to the listed programs, spending categories, and funds. These amounts apply from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The law lists funds for State Hospital North and State Hospital South and reduces another appropriation by the same total amount. The funding and reduction cover State Hospital North and State Hospital South. The listed $6,054,000 comes from the Cooperative Welfare (Dedicated) Fund; the reduction is from the Cooperative Welfare (Federal) Fund. These amounts cover July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Sections 7 and 8 took effect upon passage and approval.
The law authorizes 15 more full-time positions and allows two department divisions to transfer certain appropriated money between personnel costs and payments for people receiving services. The 15-position authorization is for the department's Mental Health Services Division. The transfer authority applies to the Mental Health Services and Psychiatric Hospitalization divisions and the listed spending categories. Both provisions apply from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The Mental Health Services Division must report spending under the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. The report covers fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026 spending under the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. The report must show actual spending on services for adults and children. The Legislative Services Office's Budget and Policy Analysis Division determines the format and information to include. The report is due to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Services Office by December 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Signed by Governor Brad Little on 04/02/26 Session Law Chapter 272 Effective: 04/02/2026 SECTION 7 & 8; 07/01/2026 SECTION 1-6Became Law
- Apr 1Reported delivered to Governor at 1:24 p.m. on 04/01/26To Governor
- Apr 1Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 1Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 31Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Mar 31Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Mar 30Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required – PASSED - 39-27-4AYES – Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Cannon(Cannon), Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Dygert, Ehardt, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Healey, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, Shirts(Batt), Tanner(14), Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Crane(12), Crane(13), Ehlers, Garner, Harris, Hawkins, Hill(Brown), Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Price, Rasor, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Skaug, Tanner(13), Thompson, Vander Woude, WisniewskiAbsent – Egbert, Haws, McCann, PalmerFloor Sponsor - FurnissTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 27Read First Time, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 27Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 27Read third time in full – PASSED - 21-14-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Burtenshaw, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Lakey, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Carlson, Foreman, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - CookTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 26Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 25Reported Printed; referred to Finance
- Mar 24Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
HealthcareMental HealthTaxes & Budget