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.

Analyst: Niklas Kleinworth

Rating: 0

Bill Description: Senate Bill 1458 reduces 3.00 FTPs and $379,000 from the Office of the Attorney General and increases 4.00 FTPs and $637,000 to the Department of Lands for fiscal year 2025.

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.)? 

Senate Bill 1458 moves personnel and associated costs for legal representation for the Land Board from the Office of the Attorney General to the Department of Lands. This is in response to the policy changes made in Senate Bill 1292, which would remove the authority for the Office of the Attorney General to provide legal counsel for the Land Board. The Department of Lands would have to hire its own legal representation under this new policy. Senate Bill 1458 is consistent with the fiscal note provided in Senate Bill 1292.

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