REPORT

July 2026 Report

Is everyone ready to celebrate America’s 250th birthday? We’re confident Idahoans are in the spirit and primed to mark the occasion. For more than two years, cities and towns across the state have been planning parades, fun runs and events designed to champion their own local history, culture, traditions as well as their unique place in the American fabric. It’s been exciting to see it all unfold and we’re eager to rally with Idahoans across the state in celebrating a monumental anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

One of the biggest parties will take place in downtown Boise on July 4th. The Capitol Celebration planned in an around the Statehouse includes live music from some top-name Idaho groups and artists, including singer/songwriter Josh Ritter. There will be tours and interpretive displays inside the Capitol, food and beverage trucks and a whole lot more going on outside. The official Idaho/America250 website is a main clearinghouse for events planned in communities across the state throughout the holiday weekend.

It’s our hope that you will find a way to take part, to celebrate the lasting and remarkable experiment our nation’s founders provided when they debated and ultimately agreed on the principles and foundations of American democracy. Did they get it right? Are we upholding the spirit of their blueprint for liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness? That’s a debate better suited for another weekend. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy all there is to offer during our
nation’s semiquincentennial.

Amid all the fireworks that will be exploding over the next few days, it’s worth noting the end of a longstanding tradition in eastern Idaho. For more than three decades, Idaho businessman Frank VanderSloot has organized and underwritten the spectacular, must-see fireworks displays in Idaho Falls. VanderSloot, Executive Chairman of Melaleuca, announced last month that this year’s Fourth of July fireworks bash would be his last. We offer a tip of the hat to VanderSloot for building what is arguably one of the most impressive fireworks shows in the country. If you are on the eastern side of the state, or don’t already have plans, this is likely to be the biggest and best fireworks display in Idaho’s history. They are going out with a bang!

Ok, there is no shortage of activity unfolding in the world of state and federal government. July 1 marks the start of the new fiscal year for the state. This means state agency administrators have spent the last few weeks closing the books on fiscal 2025-26 and resetting spending and programming expectations informed by the budget holdbacks and cuts imposed by the Legislature and Gov. Little. As if on cue, the Governor and his financial management office sent out a memo recently telling agency directors, who are now in the process of crafting budgets for the next fiscal year, to once again think about tightening the purse strings.

Division of Financial Management Administrator Lori Wolff said she is not anticipating a mid-year round of spending holdbacks, unlike last year when the Governor ordered a 3 percent rollback except for public schools. Still, Wolff said agencies should be planning for another year of lean budgets and no frills or special requests.

July also marks the time when most of the new laws passed by the Legislature earlier this year go into effect. Startingtoday, more than 300 new laws related to crime, firing squads, local elections, social media restrictions, affordable housing and more go into effect. It all makes for a busy and at times chaotic stretch as state and local entities adapt to all the code changes.

Our calendars are also plenty full. We’re paying close attention to preparations by the Governor, the Land Board and the Idaho Department of Lands in advance of wildfire season. All evidence right now points to a challenging season ahead and monitoring the state’s efforts to prevent and suppress fires as they break out in the coming months. This is where we remind everyone to be safe with campfires, fireworks and all the other potential hazards. Be fire wise and safe out there.

Policymakers and stakeholders continue their work to identify priorities and allocate resources as part of the Rural Health Transformation project. The Department of Health and Welfare has posted a series of RFPs worth millions of dollars as part of this project, with more to come in the next few weeks. The state has until the end of October to account for $186 million in federal grants - funding provided by President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill from last summer – to bolster health care in rural corners of the state.

Other chatter in downtown is centers on new staff changes in the Governor’s office. We know and have good relationships with the new staff and look forward to working with them. There are also changes at the top of some agencies, including the appointment of Alberto Gonzalez as Director of the Idaho Department of Transportation. Gonzalez was the head of the Office of Information Technology Services (OITS), takes over for Scott Stokes who retired recently. Little named Jake Reynolds as the interim head of OITS and also appointed John Bernasconi as Chairman of the Idaho State Tax Commission. Congrats to both. We’ve worked extensively with all three and expect to collaborate positively with each in their new roles.

We recently hosted a happy hour with the Governor and his policy staff and will continue meeting with them individually. One thing we can say is that change is a constant, and as the Governor eyes his third term, more changes in staff and some agencies should be expected.

Another rumor, and a potentially big one, is that legislative leadership is considering using its power to call the House and Senate back for a potential special session. But with no formal commitment from leadership and no plan by the Governor to call a special session, the reasons and timing for coming back to Boise is purely rumor right now. We will continue to monitor this and report on any actual news as it happens. Benn Brocksome will be joining members of Idaho’s legislature and federal delegation for meetings and events in Washinton D.C. in late July. We look forward to positive policy conversations and face-to-face conversations with Idaho’s representatives and senators.

Lastly, we wanted to say thank you. Today marks the seven-year anniversary of BB&A. We’ve come a long way and have accomplished so much for you and the state. We are grateful for the opportunity to do what we love to do for you. From our hearts and families to yours, thank you! Onward, and cheers to many more successful, fun years ahead!