Rating: –1

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1138 provides a supplemental appropriation of $765,800 to the Idaho Department of Finance for Fiscal Year 2026, sourced from the State Regulatory Fund. The funds are allocated as follows: $671,300 for personnel costs, $25,000 for operating expenses, and $69,500 for capital outlay. The bill also authorizes the hiring of five new full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to support the department’s operations. An emergency clause sets the effective date at July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:
S1138 expands the regulatory scope of the Department of Finance by increasing staff and capital investment without offering justification rooted in demonstrated need or cost-cutting elsewhere. While the spending is sourced from regulatory fees rather than the General Fund, the bill still grows the size and permanence of the agency—contrary to the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s calls for eliminating unnecessary government programs and scaling back regulatory overreach. The inclusion of an emergency clause for standard administrative expansion further undermines legislative transparency and due process. Collectively, the bill prioritizes bureaucratic growth over limited government principles, warranting a negative rating.