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)
Bill Description: Senate Bill 1194 is an enhancement of $25,708,000 and 4.00 full-time positions for the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Public Health for fiscal year 2026. This legislation appropriates a total of $141,896,700 and 216.22 full-time positions to the agency - moving the EMS to the Military Division transfers 32.8 FTP.
Analyst Note: The rating has been updated to a -2 to reflect base reductions in recent years.
Does this budget enact powers and activities that extend beyond the proper role of government? Conversely, does this budget fulfill the proper role of government?
There are numerous line items that can extend beyond the proper role of government like the, “fit and fall proof program,” especially when Idaho has a separate Commission for the Aging. And should Idaho taxpayers be paying for “rural,” nurse’s student loans?
(-1)
Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)?
The line items include program restorations for “suicide prevention,” Dementia programs, HIV prevention and others. It is not clear that the government is even effective in these areas. New money is added for immunization assessments and home visitations. While it is laudable that $18.97 million in immunizations is moved from ongoing to one-time and $3.5 million for Home Visiting from ongoing to one-time, these shifts offer only a temporary fix that will have to be addressed next year. Given the short-comings we have seen in public health policy, adding $25.7 million in enhancements is ill-timed.
(-1)
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?
There are so many changes and shifts in the enhancement line items, it is difficult to estimate how many of these changes will ultimately be ongoing vs. one-time. Programs that are restored like Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are ongoing, some of the shifts to one-time could easily be reversed or added again next year. This legislation funds ongoing spending for the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Public Health at over $135 million, growing from the base by less than inflation the last three years.
(+1)
Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism? Conversely, does this budget actively reduce the amount of federal dollars used to balance this budget?
The Division of Public Health depends heavily on federal funds for its operations and programs — about 57% of the total budget. This legislation extends the dependency and even grows it by relying on federal funds for 79 cents out of every dollar in the enhancements.
(-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?
Senate Bill 1194 restores four full time positions to the Division of Public Health, after 11.50 were removed in 2025. The Governor wanted all 11.50 positions restored, this budget only restores 4 of them. But it could have restored none of them.
(0)
