Representative Steve Miller
2026 Legislative Update
For Week 7 Ending February 27, 2026
Current
Things are heating up as the pace picks up. There is a good deal of angst about the budget cuts and where to take them. While many are upset by these cuts, it is important to remember that budgets have nearly doubled in the last 10 years. Medicaid is the highest at approximately 98%, public education at approximately 88%. The CPI (Consumer Price Index) increased 34% over the same period and the population increased 25.5%.So, population plus inflation account for 59.9% of the increase. That means there was a real GF(General Fund) increase in appropriation above increased expenses of 40.1%. That is an average annual basis of 4%! That’s a lot! It is only when budgets are cut that agencies and JFAC are forced to prioritize needs and determine the most effective spending to fulfill statutory requirements.
Budget Setting The Governor’s budget had a 3% ($116.2 for FY 26, $117.9 for FY 27) reduction for most budgets except K-12 education, ISP and portions of others. The Governor’s budget did not account for $155 million funding for tax conformity (BBB tax bill) and only a $35 million for carryover for FY 2026 (compared to $435 million previously).
The EORAC (Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment committee) recommended increasing the revenue by $152 million to cover the estimated cost of conformity. Additionally, JFAC voted to increase the reduction 1%($15.2 mil) for FY26and 2% ($20.6) for FY27 on most of the same budgets affected by the Governor’s cut.
Revenue In addition, there were 2 months when tax revenue dropped below forecast. Revenue was $92.5 million below forecast in September and recovered to $10.2 million by January. The reduction only occurred in corporate taxes, not individual or sales tax. The conformity bill allowed corporations (S Corp, LLC, LLP, etc.) to take some past deductions and one-time deductions currently. Thus, the revenue shortfall. It is important to remember this is $10.2 million (1.97%) out of a $$553.8 million forecast.
What are they thinking? Many members want to adhere to the full budget cut. Many members want to take money out of the stabilization fund (rainy day savings) to cover budget shortfalls because of the budgets being cut. As the Governor stated in the state of the state, the stabilization fund is only to be used during a recession. We are not in a recession.
Part of the problem is that some agencies didn’t have a lot of GF (General Fund) in their budgets, so they had to cut some programs that were very important, such as health, safety and some cuts that result in more costs than savings over time.
With the help of JFAC analysts I created a prioritization schedule of over $17 million based on health, safety, and cuts that result in greater losses than savings over the next year or two. This should help the committee to better prioritize cuts across all budgets.
Conclusion It is difficult to cut budgets. Especially in an election year. I have the advantage of experiencing severe budget cuts in 2009 and 2010. One of the things I admired about Governor Otter was demanding Zero Base Budgeting. He required the agencies to review their statutory requirements and figure out what it required to fulfill those requirements. It was hard, it was painful, but it worked. I believe we would benefit by going through that process again.
Bills may be viewed at Bill List
Millertime
Cheryl and I attended 3 Lincoln Day events in Fairfield, Gooding and Twin Falls. Cheryl planned and decorated the Camas Lincoln day coffee and donuts at the Senior Center. There were 29 in attendance with civil questions and answers. Thanks to Cheryl and Mandy Hulmes for helping the Camas County Republican Central Committee make this happen!!
Gooding Lincoln Day was held at the North Valley Academy. It is easily the tastiest stop on the route with a tri-tip that melts in your mouth!
The final stop was Twin Falls. Senator Risch told some good stories about President Trump and State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth presented the America 250 Spuddy Buddy mascot story for America 250.
The Week
I attended a presentation at the Boise State Stueckle Sky Center regarding Representative Manwaring’s bill that would allow Idaho to use a stable coin currency. Donald Trump Jr was on the panel that answered questions. Trump Jr explained that the Trump businesses got involved because some of the major banks shut down their accounts without notice. They started USD1 which is a stable coin entity fully backed by US treasuries. It provides near instantaneous transactions which should reduce bank charges and generate interest in large vender transactions.
Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC)
The committee finished budget hearing on Thursday. We will now do budget motions until we finish, hopefully, on March 11! The start has been a little rough. The first budget was Military Division regarding education scholarships for National Guardsmen. There was some misunderstanding about how deep the cuts would be for existing students. There was a motion to approve the budget that failed and ultimately another motion to hold to the call of the Chair that passed. That budget came back Friday. Additional information stated that the $8,000 scholarships would be reduced by $500 and that the $500 would be replaced in the future as the budget allows. That budget passed the House 6-4-0 (6 ayes, 4 nays, 0 absent) but failed the Senate 4-4-2. I voted to support the motion to reduce the GF expenditure. These are difficult decisions, but it is better to reduce a scholarship than reduce home health care or reduce our forest fire fighting units on a dry year such as this. The scholarships can be replaced. A wildfire destroying thousands of acres of forest land that will be gone for a generation as well as the resulting erosion and loss wildlife habitat, is devastating.Additionally, the state will be required to compensate the federal government and any participating agencies assisting with the fire.
Seven budgets including F&G, Office of Information Technology, PUC and Industrial Commission were approved on Friday. That’s 10 down and maybe 80 to go. Stay tuned!!!
Budget hearing and setting schedules may be viewed at: Budget Schedules
JFAC agendas may be viewed at: JFAC Agendas
The JFAC meetings may be viewed live at: View JFAC
To look further into Idaho’s fiscal transparency, Idahoans can now quickly click to view historic and current statewide budget appropriations and agency expenditures for the fiscal year at Budget Informationand Fiscal Dashboards.
Agricultural Affairs Committee
The committee heard presentations from the Beef Council, Idaho Wine Growers, College of Ag and Life Sciences and IWRRI (Idaho Water Research institute).
It turns out that when a wine grower has a good year, they make $6,000 to $10,000 per acre. It takes 5 years to establish the vines. If the grower produces a good wine in their winery, it can be worth $50,000 per acre. Five years and several “ifs” are still in there! Women own 47% of the wineries in Idaho.
The committee approved H630 using aircraft to shoot wolves and coyotes, H631 allowing food sales of less than $5,000 per year to do so without many of the regulations placed by the health department. H662 regarding some flexibility in comparing milk tests.
Ag Committee meetings may be viewed live on even numbered days at 1:30pm at: View Ag
Resources and Conservation Committee
The committee approved Representative Don Hall’s H652 naming hunting as the State Sport. It does not limit other sports being added to the list. Representative Grayson Stone presented the bill on Representative Hall’s behalf.
The committee moved to introduce HJM 13 regarding the Clean Water Act. The US supreme court found that the EPA has no authority over many intermittent streams, artificial wetland, and puddles in your field or year. Yet the EPA and Corp of Engineers have continually investigated and harassed landowners. The Memorial calls to codify the United States Supreme Court decision in Sackett v Environmental Protection Agency, et al., 598 U.S. 651 (2023), concerning Waters of the United States (WOTUS).
Mike and Chantel Sacket from the Priest Lake area fought the good fight for 16 years clear to the US Supreme Court and won! Twice!! It is an amazing and inspiring story. This resolution calls for the federal government to obey the Court’s rulings. It should have also demanded that the deep state employees that have committed these actions be dismissed and charged for their crimes.
Resources meetings may be viewed live on odd numbered days at 1:30pm at: View Resources
Bill Highlights
You may view the full list of bills at and the bill status at: Bill List
It is an honor to serve as your Representative in the Idaho House of Representatives. Please forward this update to anyone you feel would be interested in receiving it.
Please put the name of your town in the subject line if you email me. I often get over 100 emails a day!
Representative Steven Miller
District 24B
Camas, Gooding, and Rural Twin Falls Counties
Vice Chair Joint Finance & Appropriations Committee
Resources & Conservation Committee
Agricultural Affairs Committee
Idaho State Capitol
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038
208-332-1061
SMiller@house.idaho.gov
Common Sense Solutions 