S14032026 Regular Session

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality for fiscal year 2027.

APPROPRIATIONS -- DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY -- Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality for fiscal year 2027.

APPROPRIATIONS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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RS33747 / S1403 This appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that includes remediation of Triumph Mine site; funding to transfer Water Pollution Control Fund and to the Environmental Remediation (Basin) Fund for the superfund cleanup project; a reduction of federal grant funds and increase in dedicated funds to support personnel within the IPDES Program and the program's permitting system; and 4.00 FTP and funding from the Solid Waste Regulatory Fund to centralize solid waste oversight pursuant to House Bill 555 of 2026. This bill also includes three cash transfers from funds in addition to the enhancements above. The first transfers the balance of the DEQ Air Permitting Fees Account to the Idaho Air Quality Permitting Fund to consolidate the two funds, as the former is no longer utilized by the agency. The second transfers the balance of the DEQ Drinking Water Fees Account to the Public Water System Supervision Fund to consolidate the two funds, as the former is no longer utilized by the agency. Finally, there is a transfer to move $400,000 from the Hazardous Waste Emergency Fund to the Solid Waste Regulatory Fund to be used for solid waste oversight activities until fees for such activities will allow for self-support.

FISCAL NOTE

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This appropriation provides an additional $1,830,000 to the maintenance appropriation provided to the Department of Environmental Quality found in Senate Bill 1363. Table 1 shows enhancements to the budget found in the bill, all of which is ongoing. Table 2 shows all the adjustments leading to the FY 2027 Total Appropriation. The total budget for the Department of Environmental Quality is $98,356,300. Table 1. FTP Gen Ded Fed Total 1. Triumph Mine Remediation 0.00 0 1,230,000 0 1,230,000 2. Cash Transfer WPCF to Env Remed 0.00 0 1,500,000 0 1,500,000 3. IPDES Program Adjustments 0.00 0 381,700 (181,700) 200,000 4. Solid Waste Oversight - H555 Trailer 4.00 0 400,000 0 0 Cash Transfers 0.00 0 (1,500,000) 0 (1,500,000) FY 2027 Budget Enhancements 4.00 0 2,011,700 (181,700) 1,830,000 % Chg from FY 2027 Budget Maintenance 1.1% 9.9% (0.4%) 1.9%

BILL TEXT

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LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1403 BY FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO THE APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY;2 APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL MONEYS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL3 QUALITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027; REDUCING THE APPROPRIATION TO THE DE-4 PARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027; AUTHORIZING5 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS; APPROPRIATING AND TRANS-6 FERRING MONEYS FROM THE DEQ AIR PERMITTING FEES ACCOUNT TO THE IDAHO AIR7 QUALITY PERMITTING FUND; APPROPRIATING AND TRANSFERRING MONEYS FROM8 THE DEQ DRINKING WATER FEES ACCOUNT TO THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM SUPER-9 VISION FUND; APPROPRIATING AND TRANSFERRING MONEYS FROM THE HAZARDOUS10 WASTE EMERGENCY FUND TO THE SOLID WASTE REGULATORY FUND; AND DECLARING11 AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.12

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:13

SECTION 1. In addition to any other appropriation provided by law,14 there is hereby appropriated to the Department of Environmental Quality the15 following amounts to be expended according to the designated programs and16 expense classes from the listed funds for the period July 1, 2026, through17 June 30, 2027:18 FOR19 FOR20 FOR FOR TRUSTEE AND PERSONNEL21 OPERATING CAPITAL BENEFIT COSTS22 EXPENDITURES OUTLAY PAYMENTS TOTAL I. WATER QUALITY:23 FROM:24 IPDES Program25 Fund26 $181,700 $200,000 $381,700 II. WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION:27 FROM:28 Environmental Remediation (Triumph Mine)29 Fund30 $200,000 $1,000,000 $30,000 $1,230,000 Solid Waste Regulatory31 Fund32 350,000 35,000 $15,000 0 400,000 TOTAL33 $550,000 $1,035,000 $15,000 $30,000 $1,630,000 GRAND TOTAL34 $731,700 $1,235,000 $15,000 $30,000 $2,011,700

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,1 the appropriation made to the Department of Environmental Quality for the2 Water Quality Program is hereby reduced by $181,700 from the Department of3 Environmental Quality (Federal) Fund from personnel costs for the period4 July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.5

SECTION 3. FTP AUTHORIZATION. In addition to any other authorization6 provided by law, the full-time equivalent position authorization provided7 to the Department of Environmental Quality is hereby increased by four8 (4.00) for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.9

SECTION 4. CASH TRANSFER FOR AIR PERMITTING FEES. There is hereby ap-10 propriated and the Office of the State Controller shall transfer the balance11 of the DEQ Air Permitting Fees Account to the Idaho Air Quality Permitting12 Fund on July 1, 2026, or as soon thereafter as practicable for the period July13 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, to consolidate the two funds and cease to use14 the DEQ Air Permitting Fees Account.15

SECTION 5. CASH TRANSFER FOR DRINKING WATER FEES. There is hereby ap-16 propriated and the Office of the State Controller shall transfer the balance17 of the DEQ Drinking Water Fees Account to the Public Water System Supervision18 Fund on July 1, 2026, or as soon thereafter as practicable for the period July19 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, to consolidate the two funds and cease to use20 the DEQ Drinking Water Fees Account.21

SECTION 6. CASH TRANSFER FOR SOLID WASTE. There is hereby appropriated22 and the Office of the State Controller shall transfer $400,000 from the23 Hazardous Waste Emergency Fund to the Solid Waste Regulatory Fund on July24 1, 2026, or as soon thereafter as practicable for the period July 1, 2026,25 through June 30, 2027.26

SECTION 7. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby27 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after28 July 1, 2026.29