JFAC reviews Department of Health and Welfare public-health budget; agency seeks restorations, IT modernization

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard a detailed presentation on the Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Public Health Services budget, including requests to restore prior ongoing program reductions and fund a slate of one-time data modernization and workforce grants.

The Division of Public Health Services, Director Alex Adams said, is large and complex and ‘‘this was a healthy exercise’’ that trimmed about 6 percent from the program year‑over‑year while restoring some base programs. The division’s FY2025 appropriation was presented as about $164,020,000; the governor’s 2026 request discussed before the committee showed substantial one‑time ARPA/CARES‑era carryovers alongside ongoing restoration requests.

Committee analysts and department staff told members that the division covers five program areas including immunizations, emergency medical services, laboratory services, suicide prevention and awareness, and a health‑care policy initiatives program (which administers the State Healthcare Innovation Plan). Analysts said a large share of the division’s prior appropriations reflected federal CARES Act and ARPA funding and that the department’s current request reflects structural adjustments to return some programs to ongoing status.

Most urgent budget requests and program restorations

Keith Bybee, division manager for budget policy analysis, walked the committee through one‑time and ongoing items. The department identified roughly $8,752,500 in one‑time requests (largely federal funds) that the governor recommended, including items described as: - public health infrastructure and workforce grants focused on hiring and training public‑health staff; - medical education loan repayment…