State Budget Actions in Colorado and Idaho

In Colorado, Governor Jared Polis signed the state budget as the Legislature concluded its 2026 session, having passed nearly 200 bills for the year; the budget included spending cuts to Medicaid intended to help address a $1.5 billion shortfall. This marked the final legislative session for Polis, who is term-limited. Separately, in Idaho, Governor Brad Little signed the 2026 Idaho Rescissions Act, which imposed an additional 1% budget cut on top of prior 3% cuts already applied to most state agencies for the current fiscal year. The Idaho measure passed narrowly, clearing the state Senate by a single vote, 18-17, and the House by a wider margin, 48-22. Legislators exempted K-12 schools, Medicaid, the State Police, and Corrections from the additional 1% cut. Before final passage, Idaho's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) restored some funding that had been targeted for reduction, specifically for firefighters and tuition benefits, before Little signed the act into law. The two reports describe separate and unrelated state budget processes occurring in different states and under different circumstances. Colorado's report characterizes the end of its session as notably quiet, while Idaho's involved a closely contested vote margin in the Senate. Details such as the specific state agencies affected by Colorado's Medicaid cuts, the total dollar amount of Idaho's rescissions, and any further legislative or gubernatorial actions following these signings were not specified in the available reporting.