IdahoIdaho sets aside $505,100 for its state public defender’s office
The law provides Idaho’s Office of the State Public Defender $505,100 and staffing authority equal to six full-time jobs for July 2026 through June 2027.
What it does
Idaho sets aside $505,100 for the Office of the State Public Defender for July 2026 through June 2027: $48,800 from the General Fund and $456,300 from the Public Defense Fund.
The Office of the State Public Defender may staff the equivalent of six full-time jobs alongside positions authorized elsewhere, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Argument forMoney for staff and operating expenses could help Idaho’s Office of the State Public Defender support its work.
Argument againstSetting aside $48,800 from the General Fund could leave that money unavailable for other state needs during the budget year.
More detail
The law sets aside $505,100 for Idaho’s Office of the State Public Defender. The funding goes to the Office of the State Public Defender alongside money provided by other laws. The General Fund provides $48,800 for staff costs. The Public Defense Fund provides $202,100 for staff costs, $250,500 for operating expenses, and $3,700 for capital purchases such as equipment. These amounts authorize spending; they do not guarantee that the office will spend all the money. The law took effect July 1, 2026. The money is authorized for spending from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The Office of the State Public Defender may use staff positions equal to six full-time jobs alongside positions authorized by other laws. The limit measures total staff work hours, so it does not necessarily mean hiring exactly six people. The authorization permits staffing but does not require the office to fill the positions.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Signed by Governor Brad Little on 03/27/26 Session Law Chapter 212 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 27Reported delivered to Governor at 3:48 p.m. on 03/26/26To Governor
- Mar 26Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Mar 26Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 25Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Mar 25Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Mar 24Rules Suspended: Ayes 67 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 3, read in full as required – PASSED - 39-31-0AYES – Barbieri, Berch, Bingham, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Dygert, Egbert, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Haws, Healey, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mickelsen, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, WheelerNAYS – Alfieri, Beiswenger, Boyle, Bruce, Cayler, Crane(12), Crane(13), Ehardt, Ehlers, Harris, Hawkins, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Price, Rasor, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Thompson, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerAbsent – NoneFloor Sponsor - ManwaringTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 67 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 3, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 23Read First Time, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 23Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 23Read third time in full – PASSED - 22-12-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Lakey, Lent, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Blaylock, Foreman, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - WoodwardTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 20Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 19Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 19Reported Printed; referred to Finance
- Mar 18Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
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