JFAC approves series of supplemental and FY2026 budget requests including $8.6 million hazmat transfer; one ombudsman request fails in House

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 14 approved a package of supplemental and FY2026 budget requests across multiple state agencies, including a $8,600,000 transfer from the continuously appropriated State Emergency Relief Fund to support hazardous-materials regional response teams housed at local fire departments.

Why it matters: The committee’s actions provide near-term funding for emergency response, public-safety communications and other agency needs ahead of the next fiscal year and set intent language for several programs. The single funding request that failed in the House was for a new Office of Health and Human Services ombudsman salary increase; that motion will be taken up again at a later date.

Most prominent outcomes

- Hazardous-materials regional response: JFAC approved a one-time transfer of $8,600,000 from the continuously appropriated State Emergency Relief Fund to the Department of Military’s miscellaneous revenue fund to purchase new equipment for regional hazmat teams. Representative Petzke moved the transfer; Senator Ward Engelking seconded. The motion passed with a Senate vote of 9–1 and a House vote that produced a total of 19 ayes, 1 nay, 0 absent/excused.

- Military/public-safety communications: The committee approved a $540,001 supplemental appropriation from the general fund to allow the Military Division to contract for installation of public-safety communications systems and to build four installation bays, and a separate $759,200 one-time general fund appropriation to upgrade the division’s IT infrastructure and licensing for an independent public-safety network. Both motions passed (540,001: unanimous; 759,200: combined vote summary 19–1 total).

- Smaller supplement and replacement items: JFAC approved a $34,200 one-time reimbursement to the Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Fund to cover remaining FY2024 cleanup costs (motion carried unanimously), a $1,724,300 one-time transfer from the general fund to the pest control deficiency fund for the Department of Agriculture’s exotic species monitoring and control, and multiple replacement-item and hardware requests across departments (votes summarized below).

- Department of Veterans Services and capital/replacement requests: The committee approved FY2026 maintenance and enhancement funding for veteran homes and associated reappropriation authority for federal construction grants (motion carried with a combined 19–1 Senate/House tally in favor).

- Department of Agriculture and other agency enhancements: JFAC approved a package of agricultural enhancements and replacement items including investigator pay adjustments, compensation for certain inspectors, and vehicle/lab equipment purchases; the combined vote totals were recorded as 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused.

- Department of Finance and regulatory staffing: The committee approved five additional full-time equivalent positions (FTPs) and $765,800 from dedicated funds to add examiners, cybersecurity and forensic accounting capacity in the Department of Finance. The motion passed with the committee reporting a combined tally of 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent/excused.

- Licensing and certification language and reporting: JFAC approved intent language exempting the Department of Health and Welfare’s Licensing and Certification program from a FY2025 personnel-transfer restriction (permitting transfers of personnel savings to operating for contract nurses), and directed the department to work with the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) to draft potential legislation and report back to JFAC on a possible program transfer. The motion passed (combined tally: 16 ayes, 2 nays, 2 absent/excused).

- Department of Health and Welfare: The committee approved replacement and IT hardware funding requests for the department’s Indirect Support Services division and attached language requiring a December 15 report to JFAC on state-vehicle utilization and fleet appropriateness. Motion carried (17 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent/excused).

- Failed ombudsman salary increase: A motion to add $50,000 from the general fund for the Office of Health and Human Services ombudsman passed the Senate but did not achieve a House majority (House vote recorded as 5 ayes, 2 nays, 3 absent/excused). Committee minutes state the motion failed and will be taken up at a later date.

Votes at a glance (selected items)

- Hazardous substance emergency response: $34,200 one-time reimbursement (motion passed; 20–0 overall). - Public-safety communications support (Military Division): $540,001 one-time (motion passed; 20–0 overall). - Military Division IT infrastructure upgrade: $759,200 one-time (motion passed; Senate 9–1, House unanimous; total 19–1). - FY2026 military enhancements & hazmat equipment transfer: net increases totaling $9,117,100 with an $8.6M transfer from state emergency relief fund (motion passed; Senate 9–1, House unanimous; total 19–1). - Veterans services FY2026 maintenance and enhancements: net increase $709,000 plus reappropriation authority for federal grants (motion passed; Senate 9–1, House unanimous; total 19–1). - Agriculture pest-control deficiency: $1,724,300 one-time to pest control deficiency fund (motion passed; 20–0 overall). - Department of Finance enhancements: +5 FTP and $765,800 dedicated funds (motion passed; 18–1–1 reported aggregate). - Licensing & Certification language/reporting: intent language approved; directs DHW and DOPL to draft potential legislation and report by Jan. (motion passed; 16–2–2 aggregate). - Department of Health & Welfare fleet report and replacement items: language requiring Dec. 15 report; replacement and IT hardware approved (motion passed; 17–1–2 aggregate). - Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman: $50,000 general fund request (motion failed in House; not enacted).

Discussion and disclosures

Committee members and analysts emphasized that many of the items are one-time or supplemental and that approved appropriations depend on adherence to intent language included in motions and on required reports. Representative Petzke made a conflict disclosure before a vote on public-safety communications, saying he needed “to declare a rule of 80 on this one as I serve on the board of directors of a company that supplies some of this equipment,” and the declaration was noted in the record.

What the motions do not do

Most approved items are supplemental or one-time enhancements; where motions directed staff to draft legislation or prepare reports (for example, licensing and certification or the Health and Welfare vehicle report), those actions require additional committee review or future legislation before structural changes occur.

Next steps

Several items—particularly the licensing and certification review and the vehicle-utilization report—require follow-up work and written reports to JFAC staff. The ombudsman request will be reintroduced at a later date when sponsors choose to bring it back to the House.

Sources and process

The article is based on the Feb. 14, 2025 JFAC transcript and recorded roll-call results presented during the committee meeting. Motion texts, mover/second names and vote tallies are taken from the committee record. Quotations and conflict disclosures are attributed to speakers recorded on the transcript.