Idaho sets aside $72.5 million for state building work

The Department of Administration’s Division of Public Works can spend up to $72,507,300 from the Permanent Building Fund. The money covers building construction, repairs, and upkeep, along with related land and equipment costs. Maintenance allocations total $71,617,200. The allocations include $31,422,500 for alterations and repairs, $34,028,700 for building maintenance, and $1,500,000 for facilities maintenance. Another $4,666,000 is for disability access work, and $890,100 is for Bonneville County Readiness Center design. The Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council decides the order of construction work. Spending is limited to what each project needs. The spending authority covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The law took effect July 1, 2026.

The Division of Public Works may use this funding to match federal money or private donations and transfer project savings or unused funding. Matching may use federal money already available or provided later. Agency operating-budget money may pay for building work and related land or equipment. Transfers may go only to another requested and funded project. The Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council must approve them before the money is spent. Using public works money from agency operating budgets requires the council’s express approval in each case.

The Division of Public Works must report project progress, spending, expected costs, and unused money to legislative budget officials. The report covers major building projects, overdue maintenance, repairs, Capitol Mall and Chinden Campus upkeep, disability access work, and asbestos removal. The report must explain projects whose construction has not started, or is not expected to start, within 24 months of initial funding. It must identify projects with no construction begun within four years of initial funding and unused money not committed to payments for completed projects. It must account for unused money not committed to payments five years after initial funding for repairs, facilities maintenance, asbestos removal, and disability access projects. The report is due to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Services Office’s Budget and Policy Analysis Division no later than November 15, 2026.

Certain unused Permanent Building Fund balances are available for lawmakers to consider assigning again. The Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council identifies these funds. The Division of Public Works also helps identify funds for capital projects where construction has not begun. Covered funds include capital projects where construction has not begun within four years of initial funding. They also include unused money not committed to payments for completed capital projects or for repairs and facilities maintenance five years from initial funding. Another funding decision is needed to assign the money to a specific use. The council must recommend uses in its November 2026 budget submission. The Division of Public Works joins the recommendation for capital projects where construction has not begun.