Idaho Legislature Passes Maintenance Budgets with 5% Cuts

Lawmakers approve budgets despite concerns from state officials and some legislators

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Idaho Legislature's budget committee, JFAC, passed new fiscal year 2027 maintenance of operations budgets on Friday that include 5% state budget cuts for most state agencies and departments. The cuts have the potential to delay tax refunds, reduce water quality testing, and impact mental health courts and the state's crisis response system, according to state officials. Some lawmakers expressed concerns about the across-the-board nature of the cuts and pushed for more targeted reductions, but the budgets were ultimately approved in a party-line vote.

Why it matters

The budget cuts passed by JFAC could have far-reaching impacts on core state programs and services, raising concerns among state officials and some legislators about the potential damage to the state. The decision highlights the ongoing tensions between lawmakers seeking to reduce spending and state agencies warning about the consequences of such cuts.

The details

JFAC passed a series of 10 maintenance of operations budgets covering different state agencies, departments and branches of government. The additional 5% cuts do not apply to K-12 education, Medicaid, the Department of Correction, or the Idaho State Police. During the meeting, some lawmakers, including Republicans, expressed frustration and concerns about the depth and across-the-board nature of the cuts, but the budgets were ultimately approved in a 12-8 vote along party lines.

  • The JFAC committee passed the budgets on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • The budgets will next head to the full Idaho House and Senate for consideration.

The players

JFAC

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, a powerful budget committee in the Idaho Legislature.

Brad Little

The Governor of Idaho, whose budget chief Lori Wolff warned that the additional cuts are unnecessary and will do lasting damage.

Kevin Cook

A Republican state senator who said the cuts have the potential to "break the state" and urged the committee to remove the vote and restore the cuts.

Melissa Wintrow

A Democratic state senator and Senate Minority Leader who voted against the budgets, saying the cuts were too deep and imprecise.

Josh Tanner

A Republican state representative and co-chair of JFAC, who ruled a motion to add $10 million in funding for state police pay raises as out of order.

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What they’re saying

“We are passing something today that has the potential to break the state, and you know that.”

— Kevin Cook, Republican State Senator (Idaho Capital Sun)

“Those cuts have the potential to delay tax refunds for Idahoans, hire fewer seasonal firefighters and increase wildfire risk, reduce water quality testing, cut back on mental health courts that have helped thousands of Idahoans turn their lives around, endanger the state's crisis response system and more.”

— Kevin Cook, Republican State Senator (Idaho Capital Sun)

What’s next

The 10 maintenance of operations budgets will next head to the full Idaho House of Representatives and Idaho Senate for consideration, where they will need a simple majority vote to pass. The governor will then have the option to sign them into law, veto them, or allow them to become law without his signature.

The takeaway

The budget cuts passed by the Idaho Legislature's budget committee highlight the ongoing tensions between lawmakers seeking to reduce spending and state officials warning about the potential damage to core programs and services. The decision raises concerns about the long-term impacts on Idahoans and the state's ability to effectively deliver essential services.