'We're not out of the woods yet': JFAC reworks Health and Human Services budget

March 19, 2026 - 18:09

After a significant setback on the Senate floor, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) has successfully reworked and advanced a revised maintenance budget for the state's Health and Human Services division. The new proposal, covering Fiscal Year 2027, cleared the committee with a unanimous vote, marking a critical step forward following the initial plan's failure.

The revised budget focuses on core operational funding for essential agencies, including the Departments of Health and Welfare, Juvenile Corrections, and the Commission on Aging. Legislators emphasized that the reworked figures represent a bare-bones approach, funding only mandatory and critical services without new program expansions. The unanimous committee support signals a concerted effort to stabilize funding for vital public health and welfare programs.

Despite this progress, key lawmakers cautioned that the path to final approval remains challenging. "We're not out of the woods yet," one committee member stated, acknowledging that difficult debates and potential amendments lie ahead in both legislative chambers. The focus now shifts to the full House and Senate, where the budget must pass before reaching the governor's desk, with the stability of the state's health and human services network hanging in the balance.