IdahoIdaho directs conservation funding to districts and state agencies
For fiscal year 2027, state agencies receive specified commission funding, including money that must be divided equally among Idaho’s 50 conservation districts.
What it does
For fiscal year 2027, the law reduces the listed Agriculture Department appropriation by $3,982,700 and makes an additional $4,369,800 appropriation through the Water Resources Department for the commission.
The law directs $300,000 from the commission’s fiscal year 2027 trustee and benefit payments to be split equally among the state’s 50 conservation districts.
The law provides an additional $12,900 for payments supporting the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program during fiscal year 2026.
Argument forEqual shares of the $300,000 allocation could give each of Idaho’s 50 conservation districts $6,000 in trustee and benefit payments.
Argument againstThe Agriculture Department’s listed funding for the commission could be lower by nearly $4 million in fiscal year 2027, leaving that department with less money for its work.
More detail
For fiscal year 2027, the law reduces the listed Agriculture Department appropriation for the commission and makes an additional appropriation to the Water Resources Department for the commission. The amounts are for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The appropriations are subject to the conditions, limits, and restrictions stated in the act. These appropriations cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The Water Resources Department must distribute $300,000 equally among Idaho’s 50 soil and water conservation districts. The recipients are Idaho’s 50 soil and water conservation districts. This distribution is in addition to amounts authorized under Idaho Code section 22-2727. The distribution comes from the appropriation for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The Agriculture Department is appropriated $12,900 from the Miscellaneous Revenue Fund for trustee and benefit payments supporting the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. The appropriation is for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission’s support of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. This amount is in addition to the appropriation made in Section 3, Chapter 136, Laws of 2025, and any other appropriation provided by law. The funding covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and took effect when the act was approved.
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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 213 Effective: 03/27/2026 SECTION 5; 07/01/2026 SECTION 1-4Became 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 - 64-6-0AYES – Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Alfieri, Cayler, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, ThompsonAbsent – 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 - 30-4-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Keyser, Kohl, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - CookTitle 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
AgricultureTaxes & Budget