Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward-Engelking asked for data on whether mandatory minimum sentencing bills have contributed to the growth in corrections, and the request was acknowledged for follow-up with the committee.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward-Engelking asked how school district health care funding compares with state employee funding and whether district employee counts are known, including how many employees in each district fall below the 1.55 support unit level and concern that districts may be shorted if funding is not based on actual employee counts.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Janie Ward-Engelking referenced her prior involvement in earlier insurance-related work, specifically regarding school district participation in the state health insurance plan, as part of the ongoing discussion.
Melissa Wintrow — Responded 'Here' during roll call.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked whether the $1.3 million deficiency warrants line includes fire deficiency.
Melissa Wintrow — Raises concerns about whether there is enough money preallocated for the next fire season and asks where the cost will be paid later.
Melissa Wintrow — The speaker says he will get back to Senator Wintrow with the fire prepayment balance information.
Melissa Wintrow — Referenced in the prior exchange about Medicaid holdbacks and the budget number.
Melissa Wintrow — Raised concern about using intent language to override established law.
Melissa Wintrow — Expressed concern about using intent language to override established law.
Melissa Wintrow — Said she is struggling with the idea of using intent language to set aside law.
Melissa Wintrow — Said she remains uncomfortable with the lack of clarity about how intent language differs from law.
Melissa Wintrow — Addressed in the explanation about intent language and law.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked whether performance and effectiveness are tracked for statewide cost allocation services.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow discussed budget balancing options with Mr. Bybee, asking whether reserve funds could be directed to cover budget requests and noting that legislatures should not tie their hands. After hearing that all options were on the table, she thanked him for the presentation, referenced structural balance and ongoing funds, and said she appreciated the governor’s creativity in trying to minimize harm to major programs such as public defense and mental health. She concluded by suggesting a temporary bridge until revenues rise with population growth.
Steven Tanner — Called during roll call.
Steven Tanner — Representative Tanner addressed the chair in a brief exchange, including a question about the Medicaid number without the 4% holdbacks and a reference to the chair as 'Chair Tanner.'
Steven Tanner — Addresses the chair and asks for a brief explanation of the 2015 law and the funding source for strategic initiatives grants.
Steven Tanner — Adds a clarification about teachers entering the state plan and the resulting cost differences.
Charlie Shepherd — Likely referenced as 'Petsky' during roll call; uncertain transcription.
Dustin Manwaring — Dustin Manwaring is called during roll call and appears again in the continued roll call listing of members present.
Brandon Mitchell — Brandon Mitchell is mentioned during the roll call as part of the attendance call, with his name repeated in the continuation of the roll call list.
Elaine Price — Elaine Price is called during the roll call and then named again as part of the continued roll call sequence of members.
Elaine Price — Representative Price asked Mr. Bybee where the interest funds had previously gone and whether the agency had budgeted for and used them, and the response was directed back to him as part of that same exchange.
Elaine Price — Representative Elaine Price was called on by the chair and asked whether there is anything in statute or policy that specifies when stabilization funds should be used. The discussion then immediately moved to a response addressing her question.
Chris Bruce — Named in the roll call continuation.
Chris Bruce — Representative Bruce asked how the state’s insurance companies are selected and whether the state is in a contract that allows it to negotiate rates or cap annual increases. He followed up by asking if the state could set a limit on cost growth or leave the current carrier and seek another option, emphasizing that the rising costs are unsustainable. The chair responded that the committee would review the contract and that the administrator might provide further answers.
Mark Harris — Named in the roll call continuation; likely repeated.
Mark Harris — Asks whether the roughly $30 million for Empowering Parents is the available balance after the grant was removed last year through legislation.
Mark Harris — Representative Harris asks to revisit the previous slide and questions why premiums are still being paid for state employees, teachers, or other employees who are not enrolled in the insurance plan.
Mr. Bybee — Asked to come forward and identify himself for the record.
Mr. Bybee — Responds to the committee and invites questions during the presentation.
Keith Bybee — Introduced himself as division manager of the Budget and Policy Analysis Division for the Legislative Services Office and outlined his presentation.
Edward Hill — Used as an example of encumbered funds crossing fiscal years when purchasing vehicles.
Edward Hill — Mr. Bybee is referenced as having previously explained major cost increases, including $37 million to the prosecutor’s office, and as having already requested that analysts provide a five- or ten-year trend to better contextualize those expenses.
— The speaker notes that the two new members appear to be following the presentation.
Jason Monks — Mr. Bybee was questioned about the funding gap between current law and the governor’s proposed level. The discussion focused on whether statutory changes would be needed to move from the lower amount to the governor’s $106 million figure, and on explaining the reported $77 million deficit under current law and agency request. Mr. Bybee clarified that the governor is bringing in about $106 million in cash, tying the figures together as part of the same budget explanation.
Kevin Cook — During the question period, Senator Cook was addressed by the chair and followed up by asking for clarification about the difference between two figures discussed in the exchange.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook asked Mr. Bybee whether legislation is needed for each individual interest transfer back to the general fund, and the exchange continued on that same point.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook asks Mr. Bybee whether the observed contract inflation is due to terms already written into the contracts or whether the contracts were rebid at higher prices because of inflation.
Christy Zito — Senator Hart asks about the Department of Corrections’ $31 million general fund increase, questioning whether it is driven by Idaho’s population growth, rising crime, or changes in crime classification.
Noah Peterson — Noah Peterson, a budget and policy analyst for the Legislative Services Office, responds to Senator Hart’s question about the Department of Correction budget increase. He explains that the department has not identified a specific reason for continued population growth, notes that the $31 million increase reflects an average 3.15% growth rate over the last two years, and says the growth is being absorbed through county jails and out-of-state placements because IDOC facilities are full. He also adds that part of the increase comes from a medical services contract expiring in September 2026, with a modest per diem increase.
Janet Jessup — Janet Jessup was called forward, identified herself for the record as a principal budget analyst with Legislative Services, and began her testimony by saying she would provide an overview of the budget process.
Morgan Poloni — Morgan Poloni is invited to come forward and identify themselves for the record, then introduces themselves as a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office and begins the overview.
Morgan Poloni — The committee thanked Morgan Poloni for the presentation and then announced a 10-minute break.
Francis Lippet — The chair introduces Francis Lippet as the next speaker, and Lippet then identifies herself for the record as a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, indicating she will provide an overview related to state health insurance costs and the appropriation process.
Faith in Olden — Identified as being with the department and available to help answer the question.
Heather Scott — Representative Harris was referenced in the explanation of why the policy exists and how it affects health insurance costs.
Heather Scott — Was asked to explain the 80-20 split and whether alternative cost-sharing charts exist.
Heather Scott — Explained that the 80-20 split reflects the quality of the benefit package and lower employee cost share.