Senate advances fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment, backs Medicaid increases and emergency housing extension

The Senate voted to advance H.141, the fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment bill, after the Committee on Appropriations recommended amendments that adjust appropriations across state government, increase Medicaid spending and extend emergency general assistance housing through June 30.

The Senate Appropriations Committee's proposal — presented on the floor by the senator from Washington, chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations — would increase the global commitment Medicaid appropriation by about $125 million for the fiscal year, including roughly $47.7 million from the general fund and about $77 million from federal funds. The amendment also includes targeted one-time appropriations and program adjustments that the committee said respond to updated caseloads and fiscal pressures.

The committee argued the BAA (budget adjustment act) is intended to keep FY25 balanced, to correct technical items and to respond to costs that emerged after the FY25 budget was enacted. Appropriators described several large changes: a net $125 million increase to Medicaid/global commitment; a $24.5 million nursing-home Medicaid bed-day adjustment tied to higher-than-expected bed-day use (the committee reported an underestimate of roughly 78,000 bed days); $10 million in provider stabilization grants for health-care providers; and a mix of one-time and technical transfers in other programs.

Key provisions and amounts described on the floor include:

- Medicaid and human services: A roughly $125 million increase in the global commitment appropriation for FY25 (approximately $47.7…