Appropriations committee approves pool of budget cuts, holds summer EBT funds pending USDA waiver

The House Committee on Appropriations on Monday approved a package of amendments to House Bill 2007 aimed at trimming the state general fund and reallocating one-time federal interest money.

The committee voted to lapse funding for State General Fund (SGF)–funded but vacant positions that remain unfilled by July 1 (excluding state hospitals and corrections), enact a 1.5% reduction in SGF operating expenses, and move $1.8 million in summer EBT funds to the State Finance Council pending certification that the Department for Children and Families (DCF) has requested a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restrict purchases of candy and soft drinks with SNAP benefits.

Committee Vice Chair Williams, who offered the package of motions, said the vacant‑position lapse is intended to “right‑size” funded FTEs and estimated roughly $11,000,000 in savings based on a preliminary Legislative Research (KLRD) run. Williams said agencies would have until July 1 to fill critical positions and that the motion carried a modification requiring the State Finance Council to review appeals before funds are struck.

Members voiced concerns about unintended consequences. Representative Francis and Representative Ballard questioned whether the July 1 cutoff could penalize positions that open shortly before that date or jobs that are repeatedly advertised because of workforce shortages. Williams responded that agencies could reallocate existing funds or file a supplemental request in 2026 if a position proved essential.

On the EBT motion, Williams proposed lapsing $1.8 million from DCF operating expenditures and appropriating that amount to the State Finance Council, which…