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Senate Rules Committee releases H 91 (VHEART) to Health and Welfare
Summary
The Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to release H 91 — a proposed VHEART program bill that would link a new homelessness transition program to the state's general assistance benefit and alter administration of a motel-based homeless program — to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare for further work.
The Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to release H 91, a bill that supporters described as creating a VHEART program to help transition people into permanent housing, into the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare during a brief Tuesday morning meeting.
The bill, committee members said, builds on work already included in the biennial appropriations act (BAA) and is intended to consolidate outstanding concerns about program design. The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare said, “it's the work that we did, we've continued to do in the BAA...I would like it to be released into our committee,” and asked whether she should make a motion to do so.
Presiding committee leadership moved to release the bill. The motion passed on a roll call vote recorded during the meeting: Senator Rob Hinsdale, Senator Elias, Senator Beck, Senator Kohlohor and Senator Baruth voted yes, producing a 5–0 tally. The committee secretary confirmed the result and the Rules Committee reported that H 91 will be transferred to Health and Welfare.
Committee discussion described H 91 as a separate program from the existing general assistance (GA) bad-weather benefit: the GA benefit would continue, while VHEART would be a distinct program aimed at moving and transitioning people from motel placements into permanent housing and linking with GA for coordination. Committee members noted the measure also “changes the administration of the motel homeless program” while not altering the GA bad-weather program. No amendments were offered during the Rules meeting.
The meeting record shows initial examination of H 91 has already begun and that the Rules Committee is releasing the bill so the Health and Welfare Committee can continue substantive drafting and oversight. The committee did not set a floor date; staff and the receiving committee will manage next steps.
Votes at a glance: H 91 — Motion to release to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare: mover recorded as Presiding Senator; roll-call yes votes recorded for Senator Rob Hinsdale, Senator Elias, Senator Beck, Senator Kohlohor and Senator Baruth; outcome: approved (5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain).
