House panel advances Human Services finance bill after amendment adopting program and integrity changes

The House Ways and Means Committee on a voice vote recommended House File 2,434, the Human Services Finance Bill, to the general register after adopting an A5 amendment that chairs described as largely technical and to align the bill with committee targets.

The bill matters because it funds a wide range of human services programs across the state while meeting the committee target that committee staff described as a multi-hundred-million-dollar reduction from the February forecast. Sponsors said the bill adjusts payment models for nursing facilities, adds program-integrity tools for home- and community-based services, and includes a $1.2 million appropriation for demolition of the Miller Building at the Anoka Medical Regional Treatment Center site.

Committee staff member Ms. Adrienne told the panel, “The Human Services Finance Committee received a target that was $300,000,000 below the base that was established in the February forecast for fiscal years 26 and '27.” Chair Schumacher moved the bill to the general register and offered the A5 amendment; the panel adopted that amendment by voice vote.

Co-chair Representative Schumacher and co-chair Chair Noor outlined the bill’s major provisions. The bill replaces the…