by SEN. JIM WOODWARD / Contributing Writer
| March 15, 2026 1:00 AM
We are getting closer to the end of session and closer to having a budget in place. In the first four years I served in the Senate, I voted for two separate income tax cuts and three separate tax rebates that returned more than a billion dollars to Idaho taxpayers. Last year, I voted against an income tax cut because I could see we were starting to lose the balance between cutting taxes and meeting our ability to fund valid state functions including education, transportation, prisons, and others.
In fact, we were forced this year to take $275 million dollars away from ITD and our local road and bridge departments because of the income tax cut last year. That translates into rougher roads and more congested roads.
As a result of the reduced revenues from the tax cut, we are also making across the board cuts in nearly every state agency. Many of us have advocated for more thoughtful budget reductions instead of the broad-brushed approach which assumes every agency is operating with the same fat to cut and that each agency is of the same priority to Idahoans. The broad-brushed approach has prevailed.
The result of that broad-brushed approach turned into disagreement this week on the Senate floor. With the $5.7 billion dollar Health and Welfare budget in front of us, one group voted against it because of the belief that the proposed budget didn’t make deep enough cuts, while another group voted against it thinking the cuts were too deep. The combination resulted in the budget bill failing to pass the Senate. Back to the drawing board we go as the bill returns to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for reconsideration.
Just as an explanation of my thought process, I’ll share how I voted on the Health and Welfare budget. Two weeks ago I voted against the H&W budget in JFAC because of the broad-brushed approach to cuts. My desire for more targeted cuts did not prevail in committee. As a legislature though, the one task we must complete every session is to establish a balanced budget. I respect the legislative process and the will of the committee, so when the budget got to the floor, I supported it.
On a different note, outside the budgeting process, I have been sponsoring bills to support meeting the ever-growing demand for electricity, to increase the Idaho Department of Lands wildfire fighting capabilities, and to improve recruitment and retention of Idaho State Patrol Troopers.
We have fallen behind significantly on ISP Trooper pay and need to act now. Nearly half our Trooper positions in the northern counties are not filled which means ISP is forced to bring Troopers from other areas of the state for temporary duty. In addition to the cost of hotels and per diem, it also means fatigued Troopers sometimes working twelve to fifteen hour shifts. Our proposal is an increase of $5 per year on your vehicle registration Project Choice fee. The fee has not increased since its implementation in 2006. I believe a dedicated fee such as this is the most fair way to tax. If you’re driving, you’re paying, as compared to sales tax or income tax which are not as directly linked to the highway safety provided.
Last week I spent a day participating in the University of Idaho Energy Symposium. The focus was on permitting reform for energy projects. It is estimated that we will need 30% more electrical energy generation in the northwest over the next ten years. Part of any energy project is permitting the generating station and/or the necessary electrical transmission lines.
Permitting is typically a cumbersome, years-long process. We are working to streamline processing in Idaho through our Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR). The intent is that OEMR is a one-stop shop to help a company navigate the permitting process, which will help keep the lights on.
Most regulations in regard to permitting are federal, such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, but are administered by Idaho agencies. OEMR will work on more efficient implementation of the regulations, without compromising the standards they uphold.
At the symposium, we listened to regulatory authorities from other western states. They expressed quite a different approach. I am glad to live in Idaho!
