Governor Brad Little unveiled his ENDURING IDAHO plan at the start of the 2026 legislative session, proposing a balanced budget focused on fiscal responsibility, strong schools, and long-term prosperity.

The budget proposal recommended 3% cuts to most state agencies while protecting K-12 education funding. Little said the plan ‘reflects what responsible government looks like’ and positioned the state to maintain its AAA credit rating.

The governor’s plan included more than $150 million to strengthen the rural healthcare workforce pipeline and an additional $1 million for graduate medical education. These investments are significant for North Idaho, where healthcare access in rural communities remains a persistent challenge.

The session was expected to be dominated by budget debates, with conservative legislators pushing for deeper cuts to fund the immediate adoption of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill tax provisions. The 68th Idaho Legislature convened on January 12.