Rating: –1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 450 appropriates a total of $18,984,900 to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) for Fiscal Year 2026 and $270,000 for Fiscal Year 2025. The funding spans multiple divisions, including enforcement, fisheries, wildlife, communications, and administration. The bill authorizes $124,300 for personnel costs, $6,605,400 for operating expenditures, and $12,255,200 for capital outlay, including deferred maintenance, facility upgrades, and a website overhaul.

The legislation also permits the reappropriation of unspent funds from prior years and allows up to $1.8 million from the Expendable Big Game Depredation Fund to be used for wildlife damage claims. All funding is sourced from dedicated and federal accounts rather than the General Fund. An emergency clause is included to authorize the immediate use of the FY2025 funding.

Reason for Rating:

House Bill 450 significantly expands spending and agency infrastructure without incorporating fiscal restraints, outcome-based budgeting, or reform language. The use of carry-forward appropriations circumvents standard budget accountability, while projects like website redesigns and office remodels reflect a lack of spending discipline. The bill adds no operational streamlining or private-sector partnerships, and its inclusion of an emergency clause for routine expenditures further undermines legislative transparency. These features contradict the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s priorities of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and accountable budgeting. For these reasons, H0450 is rated –1.