House Bill 448 — Department of Finance, Appropriations FY26 (-2)

The Idaho Spending Index serves to provide a fiscally conservative perspective on state budgeting while providing an unbiased measurement of how Idaho lawmakers apply these values to their voting behavior on appropriations bills. Each bill is analyzed within the context of the metrics below. They receive one (+1) point for each metric that is satisfied by freedom-focused policymaking and lose one (-1) point for each instance in which the inverse is true. The sum of these points composes the score for the bill.

Rating: (-2)

Note: House Bill 448 reduced one FTP from Senate Bill 1138 for a total of 4.00 new FTPs instead of 5.00. 

Bill Description: House Bill 448 is an enhancement of $642,800 and 4.00 new full-time positions for the Department of Finance for fiscal year 2026. This legislation appropriates a total of $11,875,400 and 76.00 full-time positions to the agency.

Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?

This legislation funds ongoing spending for the Department of Finance at over $11.8 million, growing from the base by over 30% in the last three years. This rate is faster than what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures and growth.

(-1)

Does the budget grow government through the addition of new permanent FTPs or through funding unlegislated efforts to create new or expanded entitlement programs? Conversely, does this budget reduce the size of government staff and programs except where compelled by new legislation?

House Bill 448 grows the size of government by the addition of four new full time positions at a total cost of $590,200. These positions include an IT examiner, a financial institutions examiner, an investigator, and one forensic accounting specialist.

(-1)