IdahoIdaho law funds transportation programs and carries money forward
Starting July 1, 2026, the law provides $98.86 million for Idaho transportation programs and allows eligible leftover money and limited accounting corrections.
What it does
The law provides $98.86 million in listed fiscal year 2027 appropriations for transportation programs and reduces Highway Operations personnel funding by $1,500.
The law lets the department carry eligible leftover money into fiscal year 2027 for one-time costs in facilities, airport grants, and construction. Construction carryovers are capped at $300 million.
The law authorizes up to $303,900 in accounting corrections for transactions recorded incorrectly in fiscal years 2020 through 2022.
Argument forThe listed funding could help transportation programs pay for facilities, airport grants, highway work, and construction.
Argument againstCarrying forward up to $300 million for construction could leave the department with less flexibility to use that money for other needs.
More detail
The law provides fiscal year 2027 funding to the Idaho Transportation Department and reduces Highway Operations personnel funding by $1,500. The listed programs cover administration, capital facilities, aeronautics, motor vehicles, highway operations, and construction and right-of-way acquisition. The appropriated money is assigned to the programs, funds, and expense categories listed in the law. The appropriations and reduction apply from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The law lets the department use certain leftover fiscal year 2026 money for one-time costs in the same programs during fiscal year 2027. This covers the Capital Facilities, Aeronautics, and Contract Construction and Right-of-Way Acquisition programs. The money must be unspent and not already committed. Capital Facilities balances must come from the State Aeronautics or State Highway dedicated funds. Aeronautics balances must be airport development grant payments from the State Aeronautics dedicated fund. Construction balances must come from the State Highway Fund or Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation Fund and total no more than $300 million. Before processing each transfer, the State Controller must confirm the amount by fund, expense class, and program with the Legislative Services Office. The money may be used from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The law authorizes the department and directs the State Controller to make accounting corrections of up to $303,900. The department and the Office of the State Controller carry out the corrections. The corrections must address transactions recorded incorrectly in fiscal years 2020, 2021, or 2022, using the State Highway dedicated fund or GARVEE Capital Project Fund. The corrections apply to transactions from fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022; no separate deadline is stated.
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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
- Apr 1Signed by Governor Brad Little on 03/31/26 Session Law Chapter 257 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 31Reported delivered to Governor at 4:55 p.m. on 03/30/26To Governor
- Mar 30Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Mar 30Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 30Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Mar 27Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required – PASSED - 50-18-2AYES – Barbieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Healey, Hill(Brown), Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Shirts, Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Alfieri, Beiswenger, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Crane(13), Harris, Hawkins, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Price, Rasor, Scott, Skaug, Tanner(13), Thompson, WisniewskiAbsent – Haws, ShepherdFloor Sponsor - GreenTitle 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 27Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Read First Time, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Mar 26Read third time in full – PASSED - 30-4-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Lakey, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Kohl, Lenney, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – CookFloor Sponsor - WoodwardTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 25Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 24Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 24Reported Printed; referred to Finance
- Mar 23Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
TransportationTaxes & Budget