House committee advances $7.0 billion biennial budget; health and human services makes up nearly half

Summary

The Montana House Appropriations Committee advanced House Bill 2 on second reading after hours of debate and dozens of amendments. The package centers public spending in health and human services, education and transportation, and includes targeted investments such as behavioral-health facility funding and school aid increases.

Lede: The Montana House on April 1 advanced House Bill 2, the state's two-year spending bill, after lengthy committee consideration and floor votes that carried the package onto second reading.

Nut graf: The version of HB2 adopted by the Appropriations Committee and the House on second reading sets a biennial total for Section B (health and human services) and major education, transportation and natural resources programs. Key items include concentrated Medicaid spending, funding for behavioral-health facilities and increases to K-12 base aid tied to inflation. The committee's report was approved in committee by a recorded vote and later adopted by the full House on the floor.

Body: Appropriations Chair Rep. Lou Jones introduced the bill on the record as "House bill 2 introduced by Jones A bill…

House committee advances $7.0 billion biennial budget; health and human services makes up nearly half

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading