Joint committee approves DEQ staffing, CREP supplemental and other agency adjustments
March 11, 2026 | JOINT, Committees, Legislative, Idaho
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Janet Jessup and other Legislative Services Office analysts guided the joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees through several packet items and motions that carried by committee votes.
On the purple packet, Jessup said the Department of Environmental Quality required an additional four full‑time positions to centralize the solid‑waste regulatory program created under House Bill 555. Representative Furness moved to add the 4 FTP; a second was recorded from Senator Cook and the motion carried in both committees (Senate 9 ayes, 1 nay; House 9 ayes, 0 nays, 1 excused).
Later the committee adopted a clarified cash‑transfer language by unanimous consent, changing a prior draft so that the hazardous waste emergency fund would provide $400,000 for the new solid‑waste regulatory fund’s first year.
The committee also approved a FY2026 supplemental of $12,900 from the miscellaneous revenue fund for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission to meet Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) payment obligations. Representative Furness moved the supplemental and the committees approved the motion.
As part of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission relocation under House Bill 503, lawmakers adopted related budget reductions in the Department of Agriculture and corresponding adds at the Department of Water Resources to preserve CREP support and the commission’s identity as a distinct budget division. Committee members discussed projected personnel savings and longer‑term operational efficiencies; Director Matthew Weaver (Department of Water Resources) told the committee he expects additional O&M and capital savings as the agencies merge operations.
Frances Lippett presented an orange‑packet item for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, which asked for replacement vehicles and IT hardware. Representative Harris moved to add $472,700 from dedicated funds for replacement items and hardware; the motion passed (Senate 8 ayes, 1 nay, 1 excused; House 9 ayes).
Why it matters: the motions reallocate staff and one‑time funds, affecting oversight for solid waste, conservation easements (CREP), and professional licensing operations. Several votes included roll calls that recorded committee majorities in favor, moving these items forward to the next procedural steps.
On the purple packet, Jessup said the Department of Environmental Quality required an additional four full‑time positions to centralize the solid‑waste regulatory program created under House Bill 555. Representative Furness moved to add the 4 FTP; a second was recorded from Senator Cook and the motion carried in both committees (Senate 9 ayes, 1 nay; House 9 ayes, 0 nays, 1 excused).
Later the committee adopted a clarified cash‑transfer language by unanimous consent, changing a prior draft so that the hazardous waste emergency fund would provide $400,000 for the new solid‑waste regulatory fund’s first year.
The committee also approved a FY2026 supplemental of $12,900 from the miscellaneous revenue fund for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission to meet Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) payment obligations. Representative Furness moved the supplemental and the committees approved the motion.
As part of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission relocation under House Bill 503, lawmakers adopted related budget reductions in the Department of Agriculture and corresponding adds at the Department of Water Resources to preserve CREP support and the commission’s identity as a distinct budget division. Committee members discussed projected personnel savings and longer‑term operational efficiencies; Director Matthew Weaver (Department of Water Resources) told the committee he expects additional O&M and capital savings as the agencies merge operations.
Frances Lippett presented an orange‑packet item for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, which asked for replacement vehicles and IT hardware. Representative Harris moved to add $472,700 from dedicated funds for replacement items and hardware; the motion passed (Senate 8 ayes, 1 nay, 1 excused; House 9 ayes).
Why it matters: the motions reallocate staff and one‑time funds, affecting oversight for solid waste, conservation easements (CREP), and professional licensing operations. Several votes included roll calls that recorded committee majorities in favor, moving these items forward to the next procedural steps.
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