House Human Services advances FY26 budget priorities; sets COLA priority for community providers and approves one‑time savings

The House Human Services Committee continued its review of FY26 budget recommendations, advancing several priorities for home‑and‑community services, homeless shelter funding and substance‑use recovery programs and approving a one‑time saving tied to implementation timing in developmental services.

Committee members moved to make cost‑of‑living adjustments (COLAs) for home and community‑based providers a highest priority for the committee’s recommendations; the change was recorded by a straw poll and incorporated in the committee’s working sheet. The committee also approved a one‑time reduction tied to the timing of federally required conflict‑free case management in Developmental Services — delaying full‑year funding for that implementation by four months and identifying one‑time general‑fund savings of $794,320 — in a recorded committee vote, 11–0.

Why it matters: committee members said earlier, and again during the session, that gaps in funding for home‑and‑community‑based services leave less‑costly supports underfunded and distort where the state places money. The committee’s change elevates a policy priority the members said will be used in subsequent budget negotiations in Appropriations and by the Joint Fiscal Office.

Details of the votes and policy directions

- Conflict‑free case management (Developmental Services): The committee approved a one‑time reduction reflecting a four‑month delay in implementation in Developmental Services. The staff estimate recorded during the meeting identified $794,320 in general‑fund one‑time savings (and related Global Commitment entries shown in working calculations). The committee vote on that specific reduction was recorded as 11–0 in favor. The committee noted the full cost would need to be funded in FY27.

- COLA priority for home and community‑based providers: Committee members agreed that COLAs for home‑and‑community‑based services for older Vermonters and people with disabilities should be treated consistently and elevated to…