What to Watch in Week One

The 2026 Idaho Legislative Session begins with significant organizational shifts due to recent resignations and retirements. Three of these resignations (Reps. Andrus, Clow, and Horman) created committee chair vacancies. To fill those vacancies, Speaker Moyle appointed Rep. Josh Tanner (District 14) to co-chair JFAC (House Appropriations, replacing Rep. Horman); Rep. Raymond (District 31) replaces Rep. Andrus on House Agriculture; and Rep. Jordan Redman (District 3) replaces Rep. Clow on House Business. The JFAC appointment for Rep. Tanner necessitated a new Assistant Majority Leader, a role Rep. Doug Pickett (District 27) was elected to fill on Sunday. These changes, combined with three newly appointed legislators awaiting committee assignments, suggest the first week will be heavily focused on organizational matters.

Another key area to monitor is the state budget. The soon-expected December revenue numbers will be crucial, marking the halfway point of the fiscal year. These tax collection figures will influence the revenue outlook for the remainder of 2026 and set the stage for 2027 estimates. JFAC and legislative leadership plan to set revenue estimates earlier this year, which means the impact of any state budget shortfalls on essential county funding, such as general fund support for county transportation projects, should become clear early in the session.

Finally, the filing deadline for state races has changed: the filing period opens in late February (not March) and runs for just one week. This means legislators will know their challengers mid-session. The effect of this on the session’s pace and the goal of a mid-March adjournment remains an open question.

For ongoing updates on legislation affecting counties, refer to the IAC Legislative Bulletin every Monday. The IAC policy team is available to answer any questions.