Rating: –1

Bill Summary:
House Bill 465 modifies appropriations to the Public Schools Educational Support Program’s Division of Student Support for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. It allocates $24.7 million in new funding drawn from state endowment funds, other income funds, and federal grants, while simultaneously reducing a previous appropriation by $17.2 million and transferring that amount back to the General Fund. Additionally, the bill amends Idaho Code §33-1004E to increase the base salary apportionment for administrative and classified staff. It raises the administrative base salary to $46,668 and classified staff base to $41,964. The bill also imposes federal funding compliance conditions, requires age verification for student services, and prohibits state backfilling of federal funds without legislative approval.

Reason for Rating:
Despite including some fiscally responsible provisions—such as returning funds to the General Fund and restricting federal backfill—this bill ultimately expands state spending obligations and increases baseline salary costs for non-instructional personnel without corresponding efficiency or performance reforms. It further entrenches federal dependency by accepting millions in recurring grant money, which runs counter to the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s emphasis on limiting government size, avoiding federal entanglement, and decentralizing education policy. The structural salary increases and new appropriations represent an expansion of state influence rather than a rollback or decentralization of government in education.