Committee approves FY2026 budget bills, forwards package to rules committee

The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance voted on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, to advance a package of fiscal year 2026 appropriation bills to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary, approving each measure by recorded roll call.

The measures include line-item and lump-sum appropriations from the general fund and several special funds to finance government operations for the 2026 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025. The committee chair said the package is the product of 22 committee hearings held over three months and described the bills as the committee's recommended funding plan for the coming year.

Why it matters: These votes move the legislature's budget work forward and package multiple agency budgets and capital funds for further consideration by the Rules and Judiciary Committee and later floor action. The package contains measures that affect payroll, hospital funding, capital-improvement funds for St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, and several special-purpose fund transfers.

Most important actions and context

- The committee read and advanced the block of ten bills first described at the hearing (Block 1). Those measures include appropriations from or contributions to: the Health Revolving Fund (Bill 36-0154); the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Fund (36-0155); the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund (36-0156); the Lottery (36-0157); the District Public Road Fund (36-0158); the Indirect Cost Fund…