Rating: –1

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1130 supplements existing appropriations to the Idaho Military Division for Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026. For FY2026, the bill adds $9,322,800 to the division’s budget, including $8.6 million transferred from the State Emergency Relief Fund to support regional hazardous materials response and related expenses. It also provides additional funds for personnel and capital outlay from the General Fund and Administration & Accounting Services Fund. For FY2025, the bill appropriates $540,000 for public safety communications and $759,200 for information technology infrastructure upgrades and software licensing. It also transfers $34,200 to reimburse the Military Division’s Office of Emergency Management for hazardous substance response activities. The bill includes an emergency clause, with immediate effect for FY2025 appropriations and a July 1, 2025, start date for FY2026 allocations.

Reason for Rating:
S1130 circumvents regular budgetary scrutiny by introducing supplemental, off-cycle appropriations totaling over $10 million without adequate legislative oversight or transparency. It relies on a web of fund transfers, including emergency and special revenue accounts, which obscures spending and undermines fiscal accountability—contrary to the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s principles of limited, transparent, and constitutionally grounded government. Additionally, the bill authorizes new IT and communications infrastructure spending with no sunset provisions or cost containment, likely leading to expanded bureaucracy and recurring obligations. These structural and procedural flaws outweigh the public safety rationale, resulting in a negative rating.