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H 445

An act relating to creating the Land Access and Opportunity Revolving Fund

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elizabeth Burrows and 5 co-sponsors

Provides $30M General Fund transfer to Water Management Fund for Idaho water infrastructure, plus short-term funding and staff to IDWR for aquifer and project work.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on General and Housing
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Bill Summary · H 445

Summary — H 445 (Idaho) — Appropriation to the Department of Water Resources and Water Project Funding (2025)

Main purpose

H 445 provides supplemental FY2026 funding and authority to the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), directs cash transfers to state water funds for aquifer monitoring and water infrastructure projects, authorizes four additional FTEs for FY2026, and sets rules and reporting requirements for the use and allocation of those funds.

Key provisions

  • Supplemental appropriation: Adds $31,097,700 to IDWR’s FY2026 maintenance appropriation (ongoing increase ~$30,539,800; one‑time ~$557,900). After this appropriation the Department’s total FY2026 budget is reported as $113,353,100.
  • FTEs: Authorizes 4.00 additional full‑time equivalent positions for July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.
  • Cash transfers:
    • $716,000 transferred from the Revolving Development Fund to the Aquifer Planning and Management Fund (for aquifer monitoring, measurement, and modeling).
    • $30,000,000 transferred from the General Fund to the Water Management Fund (for water projects).
  • Use of Water Management Fund ($30M): Funds are to be used by the Idaho Water Resource Board for planning, construction, rehabilitation, reconstruction and improvement of water infrastructure, with project priorities including:
    • Aquifer recharge and groundwater management;
    • Storage and conveyance (reservoirs, diversion structures, pipelines, canals);
    • Supply and delivery efficiency/conservation;
    • Emergency repairs and resilience upgrades.
  • Geographic allocation limits: No more than 50% of a single year’s water‑project funds may be used in a single water‑board district, unless there are no competing applications. For FY2026 specifically, 50% is allocated to board district 3 and 50% to district 4 to support the 2024 Stipulated Mitigation Plan for the Eastern Snake Plain.
  • General stream adjudications / filing fees: Legislative intent that General Fund appropriations for general stream adjudications count toward filing fees required under Idaho Code §42‑1414 for claims filed by the Idaho Water Resource Board and the Governor; procedures provided if appropriations are insufficient.
  • ARPA reappropriation: Reappropriates any unexpended ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund balances previously appropriated to IDWR’s Planning & Technical Services program for nonrecurring water‑infrastructure expenditures for FY2025 (subject to Controller and LSO confirmation).
  • Reporting: IDWR must report to JFAC, relevant legislative committees, and Legislative Services’ Budget & Policy Analysis Division by December 5, 2025 (including info required by Idaho Code §42‑1760(3)).
  • Effective date: Emergency clause — full force and effect on and after July 1, 2025.

Fiscal impact

  • Additional appropriation: $31,097,700 (with most funds from the General Fund for the $30,000,000 transfer).
  • Specific transfers: $30,000,000 (General Fund → Water Management Fund); $716,000 (Revolving Development Fund → Aquifer Planning & Management Fund).

Who is affected

  • Idaho Department of Water Resources (budget and staffing).
  • Idaho Water Resource Board (recipient/manager of Water Management Fund projects).
  • Water rights claimants and parties to general stream adjudications (filing fee treatment and potential extensions).
  • Water users and districts statewide, with targeted support for Eastern Snake Plain (board districts 3 & 4) in FY2026.
  • Project contractors and local entities undertaking water infrastructure projects across Idaho.

Timeline / procedural notes

  • Bill enacted and contains an emergency clause: effective July 1, 2025.
  • IDWR reporting requirement due December 5, 2025.
  • FY2026 funding and transfers to occur July 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

Note: The provided source materials also included unrelated legislative text and docket information from another jurisdiction (a Massachusetts House docket) that is not part of Idaho H 445.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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