IdahoIdaho environmental agency gets fiscal 2027 funding and staff positions
For fiscal year 2027, Idaho’s environmental agency receives program funding, authorization for four more staff positions, and directions to move money among funds.
What it does
For fiscal year 2027, the law sets aside $2,011,700 for water quality, waste management, and cleanup, and reduces a separate department appropriation by $181,700.
The department has authorization for four more full-time positions during fiscal year 2027.
The State Controller must move the air and drinking water fee account balances into their related funds and transfer $400,000 to the solid waste fund.
Argument forAdded program money and four more authorized positions could help the department handle water quality, waste, and cleanup work.
Argument againstMoving money out of the hazardous waste emergency fund could leave fewer funds available for emergency needs.
More detail
The law sets aside money for the department’s water quality, waste management, and cleanup programs and reduces a separate appropriation. The listed program amounts total $2,011,700, and the separate reduction is $181,700 from the department’s federal fund for water quality personnel costs. These amounts apply from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The law authorizes four more full-time positions for the Department of Environmental Quality. The authorization applies to the department. The added authorization applies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The law directs the State Controller to transfer the balances of two fee accounts into other funds and move $400,000 to the Solid Waste Regulatory Fund. The fee account balances go to the Idaho Air Quality Permitting Fund and Public Water System Supervision Fund; the $400,000 comes from the Hazardous Waste Emergency Fund. The air and drinking water transfers combine each fee account with its destination fund and end use of those accounts. The transfers are due July 1, 2026, or as soon afterward as practical, for fiscal year 2027.
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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 214 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 - 41-29-0AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Haws, Healey, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, Mickelsen, Miller, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, Shirts, Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, WheelerNAYS – Beiswenger, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Crane(12), Crane(13), Ehlers, Garner, Harris, Hawkins, Hill, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Rasor, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Skaug, Tanner(13), Thompson, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerAbsent – NoneFloor Sponsor - MillerTitle 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 - 24-9-2AYES – Adams, Anthon, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Lakey, Lent, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Blaylock, Foreman, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Shippy, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – Bernt, 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
Environment & Energy