Rating: –1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 464 appropriates $2,449,400 to the State Department of Education for Fiscal Year 2026 from various sources, including $307,900 from the General Fund, $300,000 from the Public Charter School Authorizers Fund, $6,800 from the School Bus Camera Fund, $264,000 from the American Rescue Plan Fund, and $1,570,700 from the Federal Grant Fund. The bill also reappropriates $800,000 for an office remodel and provides an additional $33,600 from the School Bus Camera Fund for Fiscal Year 2025.

The legislation adds one full-time equivalent position and includes several oversight provisions: monthly data sharing with Legislative Services, restrictions on inter-account transfers without legislative approval, prohibitions on backfilling federal funds with state dollars, mandatory reporting on underperforming charter schools, and contract transparency requirements for purchases over $25,000. An emergency clause applies to FY2025-related sections of the bill.

Reason for Rating:

House Bill 464 expands administrative spending and deepens Idaho’s dependency on federal funding without offering meaningful reform. The addition of a new staff position, an $800,000 office remodel, and growing red tape undercut the goal of limited and efficient government. While oversight provisions may appear beneficial, they do not address structural inefficiencies or promote local control, school choice, or education innovation. The misuse of an emergency clause to accelerate routine expenditures further reduces transparency and deliberative governance. These features conflict with the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s emphasis on lean administration, fiscal responsibility, and decentralization. For these reasons, H0464 is rated –1.

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