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Human Services committee advances a mixed budget-adjustment package; members take straw poll
Summary
The Human Services Committee reviewed a multi-part FY25 budget-adjustment package covering Reach Up, SNAP, long-term care, DCF secure facilities, a Health Department cannabis fund allocation and a confirmed advanced purchase of supplies for Planned Parenthood.
The Human Services Committee reviewed and tentatively approved as a package a set of budget-adjustment recommendations covering Reach Up, SNAP, long-term care, DCF secure facilities, a Health Department cannabis fund allocation, and a confirmed advanced purchase for Planned Parenthood supplies.
Key items in the package:
- Reach Up: The committee recommended a one-time inflation-response stipend of $100 per household and retaining roughly $126,000 in the Reach Up appropriation for potential FY25 caseload increases. Members recorded verbal consensus earlier; one member later said they could not support using some funds after voting on the larger package.
- SNAP discretionary funds: The committee added $1.3 million in federal SNAP funds and directed DCF to maximize use of the state's federal discretionary-benefit allocation. Committee members emphasized this does not cost state funds.
- Long-term care (DAIL/DALE): Committee members noted substantial adjustments to long-term care appropriations (the transcript referenced more than $50 million in related appropriations) and expressed concern about the sector's fragility. Members urged referencing investments in the FY26 budget and ensuring adequate rate studies and funding for home- and community-based care.
- DCF secure facilities and Red Clover: Members flagged red-flag items in Family Services budgeting, including secure facilities (Red Clover referenced) and asked for more details in the FY26 budget.
- Health Department cannabis fund: The committee recorded a $1,025,000 allocation from the cannabis fund for prevention efforts and agreed to reexamine the appropriation in the FY26 budget to determine optimal uses for prevention coalitions.
- Planned Parenthood supplies: Committee members confirmed a previously noted $100,000 allocation was for advanced purchase of supplies and that the supplies had already been purchased; members requested written confirmation to be circulated.
At the end of the meeting the chair conducted a straw poll on the overall package; several members raised hands in support and others opposed. The transcript shows the show-of-hands results but does not record a formal roll-call vote.
Committee staff said the package will be sent to Appropriations with a cover memo and the committee will follow up on items that require further detail or legislative language.
