State lawmakers are constitutionally required each year to set a balanced budget where expenses do not exceed revenues. Following a new process in recent sessions, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has created basic “maintenance” budgets that extend existing spending into the next fiscal year. A follow-up “enhancement” budget covers any new spending requested by the agencies.

The Idaho Legislature missed its target adjournment date of March 21, 2025, in the face of budget-writing delays as well as disagreements about voting procedures between the two sides of the joint committee.

After the committee set the details, it takes time for staff to assemble those elements into a bill.

“As we are voting on some of these budgets now, and getting them sent out to the House and Senate, they’re not progressing as fast as we’d like,” Senate Finance vice chair Sen. Jim Woodward told Idaho Reports. “There’s some hold up in the Legislative Services Office drafting. Not a fault of their own, but just due to the sheer volume [of bills]. If you’ve seen the numbers this year, we’re way over our average.”

JFAC redrafted most of the enhancement budgets that were voted down by one chamber or the other. Appropriations Committee chair Rep. Wendy Horman told Idaho Reports they planned to pass an enhancement bill for most agencies, but some are wholly covered by the maintenance bills.

Both chambers approved their remaining appropriations Thursday, April 3. Idaho Reports updated this tracker as lawmakers voted on appropriations and introduced replacements for failed bills.

“We are through with budgets. Thank you very much,” Finance Committee chair Sen. Scott Grow told his colleagues on the floor at 8:48pm.

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Editor’s disclosure note: Idaho Public Television is a public agency of the State of Idaho. 

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