H09252026 Regular Session

Relates to the appropriation to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027.

APPROPRIATIONS -- JUDICIAL BRANCH -- Relates to the appropriation to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027.

IntroducedIn CommitteeFloor VoteEnacted

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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RS33758 / H0925 This appropriation to the Judicial Branch provides enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that includes an $800,700 onetime increase in the Senior Magistrate Judge Fund for anticipated costs associated with magistrate judge retirement benefits. The next three enhancements were considered as part of the Court's General Fund reduction plan for FY 2027, which included shifting costs from the General Fund to dedicated funds. Implementation of the proposed plan includes a onetime increase of $700,000 in the Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Family Court Services Fund, a onetime increase of $400,000 in the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and an ongoing $2,000,000 increase in the Court Technology Fund. The total dedicated fund enhancement for the Court Operations Division is $3,900,700. In addition, this appropriation provides an ongoing increase of $77,900 for the Second District Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program to hire a trainer/recruiter position, as well as provide funding for rent, liability insurance, and an annual financial audit. In the maintenance bill, the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Division base budget was reduced by $144,800. This action restores $87,400 to the GAL Division onetime for FY 2027.

FISCAL NOTE

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Table 1 shows the adjustments to the budget found in the bill, which are in addition to the FY 2027 maintenance appropriation for the Judicial Branch. Table 2 shows all the adjustments leading to the FY 2027 Total. The total budget for the Judicial Branch is $104,568,600, with $1,987,400 of that amount being onetime funding. Table 1. FTP Gen Ded Fed Total 2. Senior Magistrate Judges Fund 0.00 0 800,700 0 800,700 3. Drug, Mental Health, & Family Crt. Services 0.00 0 700,000 0 700,000 4. Substance Abuse Treatment Fund 0.00 0 400,000 0 400,000 5. Court Technology Fund 0.00 0 2,000,000 0 2,000,000 Guardian Ad Litem Program 2. GAL Staff Position and Program Support 0.00 77,900 0 0 77,900 3. Restore 3% of rescission - OT 0.00 87,400 0 0 87,400 FY 2027 Budget Enhancements 0.00 165,300 3,900,700 0 4,066,000 % Chg from FY 2027 Budget Maintenance 0.2% 16.4% 4.0%

BILL TEXT

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LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 925 BY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO THE APPROPRIATION TO THE JUDICIAL BRANCH; APPROPRIATING ADDI-2 TIONAL MONEYS TO THE JUDICIAL BRANCH FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027; AND DECLARING3 AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.4

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:5

SECTION 1. In addition to any other appropriation provided by law,6 there is hereby appropriated to the Judicial Branch the following amounts to7 be expended according to the designated programs and expense classes from8 the listed funds for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027:9 FOR10 FOR11 TRUSTEE AND OPERATING12 BENEFIT EXPENDITURES13 PAYMENTS TOTAL I. COURT OPERATIONS:14 A. DISTRICT COURTS:15 FROM:16 Court Technology17 Fund18 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Family Court Services19 Fund20 0 $700,000 700,000 TOTAL21 $2,000,000 $700,000 $2,700,000 B. MAGISTRATE DIVISION:22 FROM:23 Senior Magistrate Judges24 Fund25 $800,700 $800,700 C. COMMUNITY-BASED SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES:26 FROM:27 Substance Abuse Treatment28 Fund29 $400,000 $400,000 DIVISION TOTAL30 $2,800,700 $1,100,000 $3,900,700

2 FOR1 FOR2 TRUSTEE AND OPERATING3 BENEFIT EXPENDITURES4 PAYMENTS TOTAL II. GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM:5 FROM:6 General7 Fund8 $165,300 $165,300 GRAND TOTAL9 $2,800,700 $1,265,300 $4,066,000

SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby10 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after11 July 1, 2026.12