JFAC approves technical corrections, dozens of program-maintenance budgets and a Health & Welfare realignment

The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee approved a series of technical corrections and the program-maintenance budgets for most state agencies during its Jan. 17 meeting, carrying dozens of motions that adjust line-item classifications, reappropriate previously authorized funds and set annual maintenance levels ahead of the 2026 fiscal year.

Why it matters: The routine actions set the baseline spending and staffing caps state agencies will work from during the next budget cycle, move a large broadband appropriation into the newly created broadband office for tracking, and align Department of Health and Welfare appropriation units after the department’s reorganization. The committee also approved the public school support maintenance appropriation and other education-related language that will guide distributions to districts and charters.

Broadband and technical corrections - The committee approved two linked motions to move $291,737,000 in reappropriated funds out of the Department of Commerce’s general commerce program and into the broadband office so those dollars can be tracked in the broadband program. Representative Gary Handy (mover) made the motions; Senator Cook seconded. Both motions passed unanimously (20–0). The staff explanation noted the broadband office was added to Commerce after the prior reappropriation was recorded, so the correction moves prior reappropriated funds into the new office for transparency. - The committee approved a $2,000,000 correction for the Department of Environmental Quality that converts an item that had been treated as a reduction from the agency’s general fund appropriation into a transfer from…