Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind for fiscal year 2026.
Summary
House Bill 451 is an appropriations measure for fiscal year 2026 that provides additional funding to Idaho’s Public Schools Educational Support Program, specifically the Division of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind. The bill appropriates a total of $504,900 for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, consisting of $492,000 from the Public School Income Fund and $12,900 from the School for the Deaf and the Blind Endowment Fund.
The bill also directs the State Controller to transfer $492,000 from the General Fund to the Public School Income Fund and clarifies that this amount is to be treated as General Fund spending for budget accounting purposes. It similarly clarifies that the $12,900 from the endowment fund is to be considered expended from that fund. The act includes an emergency clause, making it effective on July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 451 affects Idaho’s annual education appropriations and budget accounting for services to deaf and blind students. It does not create new program requirements or change eligibility rules; instead, it increases funding authority and specifies the fund sources and accounting treatment for those expenditures. The bill primarily impacts the Public Schools Educational Support Program, the State Controller, the General Fund, the Public School Income Fund, and the School for the Deaf and the Blind Endowment Fund.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been generally supported, as reflected by strong passage in both chambers. It passed the House 55-13 and the Senate 27-8, indicating broad bipartisan approval for the funding increase, though not unanimous support. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record suggests a routine appropriations bill with limited public controversy.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the use of General Fund money and the transfer into the Public School Income Fund, which may draw scrutiny in any appropriations debate over state spending priorities. A smaller point is the reliance on both General Fund and endowment fund dollars to support the program, though the bill does not indicate disagreement over the program itself. The vote margins suggest some legislators may have objected to the spending level or budget structure rather than to services for deaf and blind students.