JFAC reviews Department of Health and Welfare public‑health budget, including program restorations and data modernization requests

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 21 reviewed the Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Public Health Services budget request for fiscal 2026, focusing on proposed restorations of previously reduced ongoing programs, one‑time federal grants for data modernization and public‑health workforce support, and dedicated fund requests for immunizations and vital records.

The presentation by Keith Bybee, division manager for budget policy analysis, and Department Director Alex Adams framed the request as both a structural correction after large CARES Act and ARPA inflows in prior years and a targeted restoration of programs that the department argues are core to public‑health operations. “This year we...gave us a chance to get about $10,000,000 out of the budget or a 6% reduction year over year,” Adams said, describing the department’s approach to trimming and reprioritizing the base.

Committee members were presented with program‑level details. Bybee and department staff outlined one‑time enhancement requests tied to federal grants and ARPA carryover, totaling $8,752,500 in the package of one‑time items, and an agency request of roughly $20.8 million in ongoing restorations (the governor recommended about $21.5 million).…