Rating: –1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 427 reallocates $13.3 million in public health and emergency medical services (EMS) funding from the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) to the Idaho Military Division. The bill eliminates 32.8 full-time positions from DHW and transfers corresponding funding streams, including federal, general, and dedicated funds, to the Military Division. In turn, it creates 33.84 new full-time positions under the Military Division and appropriates $7.66 million for EMS operations across various funds, including the General Fund, Emergency Medical Services Funds, and federal grants.

Additionally, the bill provides a new $5.87 million appropriation to DHW for Physical Health Services, sourced from the federal Cooperative Welfare Fund. The legislation effectively restructures EMS responsibilities and budgeting by consolidating them under the Military Division, with an emergency clause making the act effective July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

While the bill removes EMS responsibilities from the Department of Health and Welfare, it does so by simply transferring the bureaucratic structure to another agency—expanding the Idaho Military Division’s authority and creating 33.84 new government positions in the process. This lateral shift does not reduce overall government size, cost, or scope, and in fact risks further centralizing emergency power in a quasi-military entity. It also continues Idaho’s reliance on federal funding and leaves in place a large, tax-funded EMS apparatus. Without meaningful reform, privatization, or outcome-based restructuring, this reallocation reflects continued government expansion. For these reasons, H0427 is rated –1.