Nevada subcommittee approves $903K budget increase for mental health services through 2027

The Joint Meeting of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means convened on April 26, 2025, to discuss critical budget recommendations for the upcoming biennium. The subcommittee's closing recommendations resulted in an increase of general fund appropriations by $903,282 for fiscal year 2026 and $436,651 for fiscal year 2027 compared to the governor's proposed budget.

Key discussions centered on the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services budget, where the subcommittee approved the governor's recommendation for $17.6 million in general fund appropriations over the 2025-2027 biennium. This funding will support the addition of 21 forensic beds and 53 new full-time positions. However, the subcommittee adjusted the funding for skilled nursing facilities, recommending $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 instead of the $1 million proposed by the governor.

Further recommendations included a $500,000 transfer from the Fund for Resilient Nevada to the North Las Vegas Fire Department to enhance mental health and opioid support services. The subcommittee also approved funding for new psychiatric casework positions while recommending reductions to eliminate four existing positions.

For Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, the subcommittee supported funding for nine new positions, totaling $1.5 million, while also recommending the elimination of five vacant positions. Similar adjustments were made in the behavioral health prevention and treatment budget, where the subcommittee approved the transfer of positions to the crisis response budget but did not support the addition of 17 new positions.

In environmental health services, the subcommittee recommended the elimination of the budget account, transferring its responsibilities to the state department of agriculture, contingent upon enabling legislation. The health investigations and epidemiology account saw a recommendation to remove $22.7 million in federal grant awards due to funding losses related to COVID-19.

The meeting concluded with a motion to approve the subcommittee report and technical adjustments, which passed unanimously. The next agenda item involved the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, indicating a continued focus on budgetary matters affecting various state services. Overall, the meeting highlighted significant adjustments and funding allocations aimed at enhancing mental health services and addressing public health needs in Nevada.