IdahoIdaho law funds lands programs and limits fire bonuses
The law funds Department of Lands programs for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, including money for the Idaho Geological Survey.
What it does
For fiscal year 2027, the law provides $2,724,200 for listed Department of Lands programs, including $145,000 for the Idaho Geological Survey.
For fiscal year 2026, the law provides $284,900 in additional funding for two Department of Lands programs and reduces another program's appropriation by $160,000.
The fire protection program may receive unlimited transfers from other Department of Lands programs in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. General Fund bonuses are limited to firefighters with an operational qualification on their incident card.
Argument forUnlimited transfers into the fire protection program could give the department more flexibility to direct its funds during each fire season.
Argument againstLimiting General Fund bonuses to firefighters with an operational qualification could leave other firefighters without bonus money.
More detail
The law provides $2,724,200 for listed Department of Lands programs and allocates $145,000 to the Idaho Geological Survey. The amounts cover listed programs and funds for the Department of Lands. The funding applies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The law provides $284,900 in additional funding and reduces a separate Department of Lands appropriation by $160,000. The additional funding is for Forest and Range Fire Protection and Minerals, Public Trust, Oil and Gas; the reduction is for Minerals, Public Trust, Oil and Gas. These amounts cover July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Sections 7 and 8 took effect upon passage and approval.
The law allows unlimited transfers into the Forest and Range Fire Protection Program from other Department of Lands programs, and limits General Fund bonuses to firefighters with an operational qualification on their incident card. The transfer allowance covers money appropriated to the program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; the bonus limit applies to General Fund appropriations. The Department of Lands must report bonuses awarded for the 2026 fire season to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee and the Budget and Policy Analysis Division. The Department must submit its bonus report by January 5, 2027. Sections 7 through 9 took effect upon passage and approval; Sections 1 through 6 took effect July 1, 2026.
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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 258 Effective: 03/31/2026 SECTION 7-9; 07/01/2026 SECTION 1-6Became 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 - 36-33-1AYES – Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Dygert, Egbert, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Healey, Hill(Brown), Manwaring, Mathias, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Pickett, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, Shepherd, Shirts, Tanner(14), Weber, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Crane(12), Crane(13), Ehardt, Furniss, Garner, Harris, Hawkins, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, McCann, Mickelsen, Petzke, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Redman, Scott, Skaug, Tanner(13), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Wheeler, WisniewskiAbsent – HawsFloor Sponsor - MillerTitle 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 - 25-9-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Burtenshaw, Carlson, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Lakey, Lent, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Blaylock, Foreman, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – CookFloor Sponsor - CarlsonTitle 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
Taxes & BudgetPublic Safety