Idaho directs fund money to recovery centers and youth programs

The Health and Welfare Department provides $150,000 for community-based recovery centers and oversees payments. Eligible nonprofit centers must have a physical location, offer free or low-cost recovery support, and operate at least 25 hours each week. Funding is allocated for centers in Boise, Caldwell or Nampa, Coeur d'Alene, Emmett, Idaho Falls, Kamiah, Lewiston, Moscow, Pocatello, and Twin Falls. No more than $1.5 million from the program may go to continued center funding. Centers must provide accountability documents and attest that they will use and track the money as required. The appropriation covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The department must make four distributions by July 15, October 15, and January 15, and April 15.

The state provides one-time funding for community grants and youth assessment centers. The Health and Welfare Department receives $692,200 for the Idaho Children's Trust Fund, which supports mid-size grants to community projects. The Department of Juvenile Corrections receives $1 million for youth assessment centers. The Children's Trust Fund must submit a plan for distributing and overseeing grants before awards or payments. Youth assessment centers must submit a sustainability plan with financial commitments to keep operating without state funds before receiving money. Both appropriations cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Youth center payments are due by July 15 and December 1, 2026.

The state provides $3 million for children's advocacy centers and $5 million for a statewide drug awareness campaign. The advocacy center funding supports 10 centers across Idaho. The campaign is run by the Office of Drug Policy. The Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance must submit a plan for distributing and overseeing the advocacy center funds before payment. The Office of Drug Policy must select a campaign vendor through state procurement and give the Joint Millennium Fund Committee a chance to review proposals and advise on selection. The campaign appropriation covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The Office of Drug Policy must report during the funding period and present a full report after the campaign ends.

School districts and public charter schools must use after-school program money for substance-use prevention and cessation education. The state also provides money for statewide school resource officer training and coordination. The spending rule applies to money provided to school districts and public charter schools for after-school programs. The $30,000 training appropriation goes to the Department of Juvenile Corrections. After-school programs must follow state age rules. The law takes effect July 1, 2026. The training appropriation covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law recommends prioritizing Millennium Fund money for substance-use prevention, cessation, and treatment, and allows certain Medicaid-related funding without an expectation of recurring payments. The priorities concern uses of the Idaho Millennium Income Fund. The Medicaid provision concerns money appropriated from that fund for the stated forecast purpose. The recommendation prioritizes programs serving Idahoans under 18, then adults at higher risk of substance misuse; it also recommends that fund money not pay Medicaid claims. The Medicaid provision applies only if fund money is appropriated to lessen the effect of an updated Medicaid forecast on the General Fund. Any unused money must return to the fund. Any unused Medicaid-related money must return to the Millennium Income Fund at the end of the fiscal year.