Contact us: idahoreports@idahoptv.org

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee set this year's first supplemental and enhancement budgets on Friday morning. Divides over the new reduction process were apparent in the debate on restoring tuition assistance for Idaho National Guard members.

"The additional 2% cut that was ongoing to the Military Division, the letter that they provided told us that the thing that they were going to cut is this educational assistance program."

- Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian

"I kept being reassured that, even though we were making a decision then, we could always adjust these budgets as we go forward. I'm already seeing the resistance to doing so, as well as even how hard it would be."

- Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise

"I feel like a lot of these items are to teach us a lesson... Where could they have cut besides that? A lot of the decisions that were made by the different agencies, to me it feels kind of like we're being gaslit because they're angry."

- Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, T-Twin Falls

This week on Idaho Reports...

The budget fight isn’t just over the direct impacts – it's also about what else the cuts affect.

Gov. Brad Little spoke to reporters Tuesday about issues facing the state this legislative session – and no surprise, the focus was mostly on the budget. During the hour-long conversation, Little said he was concerned about the lasting impact of proposed funding cuts, but that the matter is mostly out of his hands after he delivered his proposed budget.

Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee co-chairs Sen. Scott Grow and Rep. Josh Tanner held a press conference Thursday to address criticism of their budget process, including considering additional cuts from what the governor and his staff recommended.

It's not yet clear when the 2026 Reduction Act, or any of the ten maintenance spending bills, will hit the House and Senate floor — or which chambers will be introducing what.

This week, College of Western Idaho president Gordon Jones sits down with Logan Finney to discuss how budget cuts will affect the college, and what the ripple effects might be. Then, Dr. Mary Barinaga of Idaho WWAMI and Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News join Melissa Davlin to discuss budgets, medical education, special ed, and more.

The Governor's Gamble | Feb. 20, 2026

• STOLEN AMBULANCE: Law enforcement agencies are still searching for a suspect who drove a stolen ambulance into a Meridian building where some office space is leased by the Department of Homeland Security. The Meridian police said they believe the suspect planned to light the building on fire. [🔗 Idaho Statesman]

• ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT: A man in his 40s who had severe mental illness and lived with his family in the Boise area died recently, according to a clinic owner who leads the local treatment team. Providers say it marks the third death among patients who were receiving mobile, specialized treatment in less than three months since an Idaho Medicaid contractor cut the service. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• RECESSION RISK: An East Idaho Republican lawmaker is criticizing top legislative budget-writers after they claimed on Idaho Reports that 26 states are in a recession — a figure they could not immediately source as legislators debate spending cuts and whether to tap the state’s rainy day fund. [🔗 Idaho Education News]
• 
  
• PUBLIC DEFENDERS: Idaho’s top public defender worries additional budget cuts will increase workloads and cause the office to lose attorneys that provide legal representation guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• PRIMARY ELECTIONS: We’ll know by the end of next week who is running for the 105 seats in the Legislature and 7 statewide offices. [🔗 Idaho Education News]



• SUICIDE HOTLINE: Nearly two years after state lawmakers required parental consent for almost any medical intervention, young Idahoans like Meridian High freshman Jace Woods are still feeling the consequences. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• SCHOOL BOARDS: School trustees and administrators filed into the Statehouse Monday for a day of long presentations and policy talk — but the first message was simple: staying on the sidelines isn’t an option. [🔗 Idaho Education News]

• UTILITIES: Soon, eastern Oregonians will no longer write checks to Idaho Power. Idacorp, which owns Idaho Power, announced that it agreed to sell its Oregon service area to Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative, based in Baker City. The deal, which needs state and federal sign-off, will bring $154 million. [🔗 BoiseDev]

Your support for public media means more now than ever. The generous support of our viewers like you makes it possible for Idaho Public Television to tell Idaho’s stories.

Idaho Reports on Idaho Public Television is made possible through the generous support of the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, the Friends of Idaho Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.